Disposable shoe covers are one of the most important items of personal protective equipment (PPE). These covers are designed to fit snugly over the shoes and keep the wearer’s surroundings clean and free from unwanted and toxic materials.
Anyone working in the fields of healthcare, including hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, and outpatient care, is highly likely to be covered in harmful bacteria. That can consequently transfer onto other surfaces that we touch. This, as a result, leads to a greater risk of life-threatening diseases. In all such settings, wearing protective shoe covers has become essential to avoid contaminant transmission from our shoes.
Here, we have explained the top 5 reasons how disposable shoe covers ensure health safety:
WHAT EXACTLY ARE SHOE COVERS?
Disposable shoe covers are slip-on garments that are worn over different kinds of shoe sizes and styles. They are part of personal protective equipment that prevents the transfer of potentially hazardous material to the bottom of a person’s shoes.
HOW DISPOSABLE SHOE COVERS ENSURE HEALTH SAFETY?
Here are some reasons why shoe covers are essential items to ensure safety in contaminated surroundings:
1. HELP CREATE A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
Shoe covers can help maintain cleaner environments for schools, daycares, homes, offices, and many other spaces by preventing the spread of outdoor dirt and debris. When someone wears a shoe cover before entering a building, they can keep germs and other contaminants from entering their shoes or feet.
It’s crucial to note that shoe covers are intended for one-time use only and should never be reused. Moreover, they should not be worn in different areas to prevent cross-contamination.
2. PROTECT SHOES
Some professions are hazardous to shoes. In industries like healthcare, workers’ shoes are always exposed to filthy materials like body fluids, blood, excretions, and secretions. All of these contaminants are not just extremely dangerous for your health but also for your shoes.
These toxins can contaminate your shoes and affect their durability. However, by wearing waterproof shoe covers, you don’t have to worry. They catch the spill, and when the cover is removed, the shoes underneath will still be free of germs and totally clean.
3. REDUCE CLEANING TIME
Shoes bring contaminated particles and dirt into homes, where these toxins transfer to other surfaces and spread germs. By wearing shoe covers, you can take them off at the entrance of your home and step in with clean and disease-free shoes. This, as a result, can keep your environment immaculate and reduce the cleaning time.
4. STOP THE TRANSFER OF BACTERIA
Disposable shoe covers retain all the germs and bacteria that are present on the shoe surface. If bacteria comes in direct contact with a shoe it will remain in its sole and will ultimately contaminate the surface they come in contact with. Therefore, it is necessary to wear these covers and stop the transfer of harmful bacteria.
Wearing shoe covers while working in a commercial kitchen or factory helps to prevent the transfer of contaminants to the floor or food preparation surfaces. By using a shoe cover, you create a barrier between your dirty shoes and the clean floor. This helps to ensure that the floor remains uncontaminated and safe for everyone.
5. IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
Employees wearing shoe covers are less likely to have to take time away from their jobs to clean or change their dirty footwear. This practice has been observed to be effective across various work settings, such as medical facilities, office buildings, and private homes.
Additionally, it has been noted that customers appreciate the level of care, attention to detail, and professionalism displayed by personnel who choose to use shoe covers. This is especially important when customers have personal, health, or religious reasons that prevent shoes from being worn in their homes.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHILE BUYING DISPOSABLE SHOE COVERS?
Before buying waterproof shoe covers, look for the following features:
- Make sure that the shoe covers you have chosen are easy to don and doff
- Look for the flexible and secure elastic bands around the ankles. These will prevent slipping.
- Always choose shoes that are fabricated with durable yet breathable fabric that won’t tear and provide complete protection.
- Ensure the shoe covers have the material that will fulfill the criteria of the industry standards and workflow practices.
- The shoe covers you are going to buy should also be sturdy and non-slippery so there are no chances of falls or slips.
Check all the above-mentioned factors before buying disposable shoe covers. This will ensure that you get the best shoe covers with the highest safety.
CONCLUSION
Now we know why shoe covers are invaluable components of personal protective equipment (PPE). They are quite important for customers, employees, and the home or work environment. If you belong to any occupation that exposes you and your shoes to harmful contaminants, then you need to purchase a set of disposable shoe covers. This way you can protect yourself from the transfusion of extremely contaminated substances.