The importance of finding the right footwear for medical staff

Although it has always been important, the cleaning and sanitization of medical environments and care homes is more important than ever, in a world more aware of infection control.

Clothing plays an essential part in this, and as well as the uniforms staff wear, it is increasingly important that outdoor shoes are not worn in a high risk environment such as a hospital, where there is a risk of transferring dirt and bacteria into an otherwise clean environment.

Footwear is an important part of a health worker uniform, because it needs to protect the worker from injury, be comfortable enough to wear all day and maintain the highest levels of hygiene, reducing any health risks.  Rubber clogs are a popular choice for uniforms in sensitive environments, being both comfortable to wear all day and easy to clean and sterilize – they are designed to be worn only inside the workplace and specifically designed to prevent the risk of contamination, especially in hospitals and medical facilities.

However, these shoes are no longer restricted to clinical environments and clog manufacturers will typically provide their clients with footwear to meet the needs of many professions.  In many ways, nurse shoes are no different than clogs provided for school staff, or dental environments – although the colours may vary, they are practical, hygienic and a popular choice in many settings.

Why medical clogs are also worn in other situations

Medical staff are often on their feet all day, and in operating theatres, every aspect of the uniform plays a big part in keeping the surgeon comfortable and the patient safe.

Modern medical clogs are manufactured with the goal of preventing contamination of any kind. They are made with a special kind of rubber in order to be comfortable to wear, to provide foot support and to be worn for hours without causing back or feet pain. They are also provided with soft insoles in order to give a higher level of comfort to all workers who have to stand for many hours.

As well as medical environments, this type of footwear is often also preferred in other environments such as beauty salons, therapy centres, dental practices or schools, where staff will also be on their feet all day and where infection control, cleanliness and comfort are a priority.  There are sound business reasons for choosing this type of footwear – that’s because wearing uncomfortable shoes causes staff to tire faster – and they are an affordable choice for workplace uniforms in many sectors.

There are still some sectors who haven’t yet discovered this type of footwear – however, if you are introducing a uniform for your workplace that is suitable for all genders, easy to wear and comfortable, and were wondering what footwear to choose – medical clogs make a great starting point.