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Recommendation for boots to wear while driving trains

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Peter Sarf

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I mean a spare pair in case they get wet or whatever. Chiropodists advise not using the same shoes every day.
Well if you get a replacement pair before the previous pair have totally worn out you will eventually end up with spare pairs.

In my case I handed my lightly worn pair to my boss to check on one of the days when my feet were sweaty. Some call it biological warfare.
 

dawny291

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12 Aug 2018
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If you are funding the boots yourself just make sure that the pair you buy have a safety-rating equivalent too or greater than the boots that the TOC/FOC would normally issue. If you have an accident in anything less then you won't have a leg to stand on... literally!

The company I work for issue DeWalt Laser and I found they wear out quickly and the toe box is quite uncomfortable. Without doubt the comfiest I've tried were Dr Martins but the safety standard wasn't up to scratch, so my goto boots now are the Magnum Precision Sitemaster.
 

198ksw

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Due to start with SE as a trainee driver next month and have just been given their list of shoes and boots to choose from.

Does anyone have any experience with this SE list of footwear as to what is best/most practical to opt for please?
 

Gorlash1886

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I personally use the v10 boots I find them not too heavy and actually quite comfortable for walking, everyone is going to be different but I like them.
 

Nym

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If you are funding the boots yourself just make sure that the pair you buy have a safety-rating equivalent too or greater than the boots that the TOC/FOC would normally issue. If you have an accident in anything less then you won't have a leg to stand on... literally!

The company I work for issue DeWalt Laser and I found they wear out quickly and the toe box is quite uncomfortable. Without doubt the comfiest I've tried were Dr Martins but the safety standard wasn't up to scratch, so my goto boots now are the Magnum Precision Sitemaster.
I would advise going one beyond this and getting in writing the minimum requirements for safety footwear in your organisation. From my experience on the other side of operations, a lot will not know this, but if you have in writing, "Safety boots, errr, with toe caps, I dunno" or whatever the professional version is, then they don't have a leg to stand on.
Your company policies may also already be published via the portal, as they will no doubt guide the procurement policies.

If they do not need a significant safety rating I would advise the less 'safety style' magnum boots as some of the most comfortable general use boots available, if you're feeling flush, the likes of Timberland shouldn't be dismissed either.
If a safety rating is required, magnum again, just be wary that they are heavy.

Personally (not the view of any of my employers or policies), for the activities of driving a train, not including access to ballasted or trackside areas, safety rated footwear should not be required (none of the areas to be accessed are any different in terms of general hazard to that of the saloon, assuming this is driving relatively modern units, locomotives are a different game), if accessing ballast, one should be adhering to Network Rail's policies, but this also includes "Full Orange EN ISO 20471 Class 3 / GO/RT3279 / RIS3279 Class 3 upper and lower, S3P footwear, helmet and safety glasses" which clearly drivers do not make use of for access to ballasted or trackside areas.
Therefore, please, please, please, check your company policy for the minimum requirement, and purchase or request footwear that meets this, or meets your own assessment of the risks and hazards you will be expecting to handle when using this equipment.

The "your" part is key here. The amount of times people have said, "You don't need a bump cap here" or "Why you got safety glasses on" when it's an item of PPE that isn't included in the Risk Assessment Method Statement for work (or is, but conventionally isn't worn), they're usually met with a rather direct response that I can't type on a polite forum. You need to satisfy yourself that you're happy with the equipment to manage risks, not just your "company minimum".
 

Andypandy1968

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Train drivers no longer require steel toe caps, just safety soles. That requirement changed some time ago.
 

Voo

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Train drivers no longer require steel toe caps, just safety soles. That requirement changed some time ago.
That's interesting information, missed that one, but working DC rail I personally wouldn't want to drop a short circuiting bar on my toes! Stick with the steel toe caps.
 

chuffed465

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Due to start with SE as a trainee driver next month and have just been given their list of shoes and boots to choose from.

Does anyone have any experience with this SE list of footwear as to what is best/most practical to opt for please?
The V10 boots are really good, comfy as well, better than the Arco ones for sure.
 

TheGoldfish

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So did you buy your own? Have you any recommendations?
Magnum Strike force 8 ..direct from magnum boots uk … much lighter than anything the toc was offering … waterproof and side zip … and if yr going to be in them all day … might as well be as comfortable as possible
 

train_lover

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I wear DeWalt Challenger 3 boots. They are by far the best boots I've had in my years on the railway.
 

Gorlash1886

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Either Orpington or Ashford buddy depends on what instructors are booked for the course
 

Twotwo

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Normally wear dr martens but recently got vans. No requirement for us to wear toe steel cap.
 

dk1

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My latest are a pair of Sketchers Workwear. My TOC obviously provide shoes/boots but I have never liked them & it’s probably been getting on for 20 years since I’ve asked for any. I just tend to buy my own & claim back any expenses allowed if I get remember to. Nobody has ever questioned my footwear which has rarely been of the safety variety.
 

philthetube

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I would be wary of steel toe caps in a dc area, no metal allowed in shoes on the underground.
 

TheVicLine

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I just wear the standard issue boots, the ones I have at the moment are made by Rock Fall, got to say they are really comfy.
 

dk1

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Hideous? They are PPE, who cares what they look like. Like I said the ones I have are really comfortable, the guy asked for boot recommendations...
I do as I think they are hideous. That’s why I’m not recommending them personally.
 

8J

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31 Aug 2009
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Hideous? They are PPE, who cares what they look like. Like I said the ones I have are really comfortable, the guy asked for boot recommendations...
I drive trains (on non DC stock), not fight wars or work in a factory involving moving heavy objects. It is a relatively sedentary job with the no need to have bulky, heavy shoes that can cause long term damage to the wearer's body. For example, my mother was a paramedic and used to wear the issued boots. She had to have surgery on her ankles to remove part of the bone and an occupational health doctor directly attributed it to her work issued footwear and she was able to make a successful claim against the company as when she raised her concerns, it fell on deaf ears.

As a driver, I don't need anything that covers my ankles or has steel toe caps. I need shoes that I can walk on in ballast for at least 1 + 1/4 miles and that are non slip. I wear smart black non slip shoes from Clarks that have lasted me for nearly 2 years. When I first started on the railway, wearing the company issued DM safety shoes, I suffered quite badly with plantar fasciitis. Now, I don't. Simple choice for me really!
 
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