Typical areas of application
- Car repair workshops and car dealerships
- Car manufacturing and assembly
- Service and breakdown assistance
- Parts warehouses and logistics centres
Why are specialised safety shoes essential in car workshops?
The risk assessment carried out in car workshops and automotive production facilities reveals a complex risk profile. Mechanical hazards arise from heavy components such as engines, gearboxes or exhaust systems falling from above, which can cause crushing injuries. Sharp edges on sheet metal, screws and metal splinters lead to cuts and puncture wounds to the feet. Spilled oils, greases, brake fluids and fuels are particularly treacherous, as they not only make the floor slippery but can also corrode and destroy footwear that lacks the necessary resistance.
In automotive production, there is a further, often underestimated hazard: electrostatic discharge (ESD). Modern vehicles contain highly sensitive electronics that can be permanently damaged even by minimal electrostatic voltages of less than 100 volts – whilst you, as a human being, only feel such discharges at voltages of around 3,500 volts or higher. The consequences range from malfunctions and costly warranty claims to road safety risks.
The German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Wood and Metal Industries (BGHM) stipulates that safety footwear in accordance with DGUV Rule 112-191 must be worn for work in car workshops and the automotive industry. The specific safety class is determined by the risk assessment for the respective workplace.
OUR SHOE RECOMMENDATION
Risk Assessment: Typical Risks in the Automotive Industry
Mechanical hazards in everyday workshop life
In car workshops and dealerships, mechanical hazards are a regular feature of everyday work. When changing tyres, heavy wheels (weighing up to 30 kg) can fall on a person’s foot; during engine maintenance, there is a risk of injury from engine parts slipping down; and during bodywork, sharp metal edges lurk around every corner. Tools left lying around, such as spanners, impact wrenches or jacks, also pose constant risks of tripping and crushing.
Important: The toe caps in safety footwear must withstand a force of 200 joules – equivalent to a 20 kg object falling onto your foot from a height of 1 metre. For car workshops, this is the absolute minimum!
Chemicals, oils and greases: invisible hazards
Automotive mechatronics technicians work with a wide range of chemicals on a daily basis. Engine oils, gearbox oils and hydraulic oils can cause eczema and skin conditions on contact with the skin, which are among the most common occupational illnesses in the industry. Brake fluids and coolants contain corrosive chemicals (glycols), whilst fuels (petrol, diesel) have a degreasing effect on the skin and, with prolonged exposure, increase the risk of serious illnesses.
Of particular concern: until 1994, leaded petrol contained azo dyes (Sudan Red), which could release the carcinogenic aromatic amine o-toluidine. Bladder cancer caused by aromatic amines (BK No. 1301) is now recognised as an occupational disease among car mechanics who have worked with leaded petrol for many years.
Expert tip: Ensure that your safety footwear not only has oil- and fuel-resistant soles, but that the upper material is also resistant to chemicals. ATLAS footwear for the automotive industry uses specially treated leather and synthetic materials that withstand aggressive workshop fluids.
Risk of slipping on oily and slippery floors
Workshop floors are among the most slippery surfaces of all. Films of oil and grease form quickly and are often barely visible; spilled coolant or cleaning agents significantly increase the risk of falls; and even smooth tiles or polished concrete offer little grip when wet. In winter, the risk of snow and ice is an additional hazard during service and breakdown assistance call-outs.
Falls at work are the second most common cause of accidents in garages. Particularly dangerous: a fall whilst holding heavy tools or near vehicles on lifting platforms can be fatal.
Modern ATLAS safety footwear meets the SRC slip resistance standard – the highest level, which passes tests on both ceramic tiles with cleaning agents (SRA) and steel floors with glycerine (SRB). This guarantees maximum grip on typical workshop floors.
ESD protection in automotive production and electronics work
The increasing use of electronics in modern vehicles makes ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection essential. Sensors, control units, airbag electronics, infotainment systems and driver assistance systems can be damaged even by minimal electrostatic discharges. According to DIN EN 61340-5-1, electrostatic charge in ESD protection zones should not exceed 100 volts.
ESD protection measures are particularly important in vehicle electronics assembly, during diagnostic work on control units, in workshops dealing with hybrid and electric vehicles, and when working with modern driver assistance systems (radar, lidar, cameras). A control unit damaged by ESD can incur costs of several thousand euros – not to mention potential safety risks.
Tip: In forward-thinking automotive workshops, ESD safety footwear is part of the standard equipment – not just in production!
Typical areas of application in the motoring and automotive sector
Car repair workshops and car dealerships
In traditional car workshops, mechanics, mechatronics engineers and service advisers are exposed on a daily basis to mechanical hazards (falling parts, sharp edges), chemicals (oils, greases, cleaners), slippery floors and long working days on hard surfaces on a daily basis.
Recommended models:
- RUNNER 95 XP ESD S3: The all-rounder for all workshop tasks
- RUNNER 75 XP ESD S1P: For dry areas (diagnostics, electrical work)
- FLASH 1305 XP ESD S1P: A sporty alternative for young mechanics
Safety class: At least S2, S3 with ESD recommended
Automotive production and assembly
Conditions in vehicle manufacturing differ from those in the workshop. ESD protection is not optional here, but mandatory! Added to this are high walking distances (up to 15 km per shift), assembly line work involving repetitive movements and different assembly areas (body-in-white, paint shop, final assembly).
Recommended models:
- FLASH series (all ESD models): Ultra-lightweight for high walking distances
- RUNNER 75 XP ESD S1P: Ideal for dry production halls
- ALU-TEC 735 XP S3: Premium comfort for shift work
Safety class: S1P or S3, always with ESD certification
Mobile breakdown assistance and field service
Breakdown mechanics and mobile service technicians work in all weather conditions – from summer heat to sleet. Varying surfaces (asphalt, gravel, grass), working in rain, snow and cold, as well as frequently getting in and out of the service vehicle, require particularly versatile footwear.
Recommended models:
- RUNNER 295/305 XP S3: Robust all-weather protection, waterproof
- ALU-TEC 735 XP ESD S3: Temperature-insulating, ideal for winter use
- RUNNER 95 XP ESD S3: ESD protection for on-the-road electronic diagnostics
Safety class: S3, preferably with ESD certification
Paint shops and bodywork workshops
Painters work with particularly aggressive chemicals (paints, thinners, hardeners). Here, chemical-resistant materials, ESD protection (potentially explosive atmospheres) and slip resistance on wet floors (wet sanding) are essential.
Recommended models:
- RUNNER 95 XP ESD S3: ESD protection for paint booths
- RUNNER 305 XP S3: Premium protection class with enhanced chemical resistance
Safety class: S3 with ESD certification
Parts warehouses, logistics and dispatch
In parts warehouses and vehicle logistics, the focus is on high mileage, order picking (involving a lot of bending and lifting) and forklift traffic.
Recommended models:
- RUNNER 155 XP S1P: Sporty and lightweight, perfect for walking
- FLASH series: Ultra-lightweight, reduces fatigue during high mileage
Safety class: S1P is sufficient for dry storage areas
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