Number One Logistics Grumble Is… Cold Feet

New research has claimed that the biggest bugbear among logistics workers, tradesmen and women working outdoors is the battle to keep their feet warm.

The research – somewhat inevitably carried out by footwear specialists Dr Martens – found that, despite wearing safety footwear, 65 percent of tradespeople surveyed cited cold feet as their top problem, with wet feet (40 percent) and bacterial infections such as athlete’s foot amongst the other nasties thought to be the worst side effects for those exposed to the elements.

Of the 420 tradesmen and women surveyed working in industries such as construction, logistics and heavy manufacturing, half spend at least 50 percent of their time working outdoors.

In the UK, as in many other countries, there is no legal maximum or minimum outdoor working temperature. Whilst employers are responsible for providing adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect employees during extreme weather, three quarters of workers surveyed actually take responsibility for selecting their own safety footwear.