When you're working in an environment where your feet are at risk of damage, finding the right safety boots for your size is crucial. In addition to avoiding short-term injuries such as fractures, you'll protect the long-term health of your feet. Here are some ways to make sure your safety boots fit correctly:

Take large socks to your shoe fitting

When you go to your first safety boots fitting, there's a chance that you won't be wearing your usual work attire. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is failing to wear the thick socks that'll protect your feet against calluses and the cold. If you fit your boots around everyday socks, you may find they're too tight in the workplace, which then makes them uncomfortable to wear.

Ahead of your fitting, make sure you purchase thick socks that are appropriate for your workplace. Put them on when trying on every pair of boots to make sure they're not too tight.

Remember that your feet swell throughout the day

Everyone's feet swell throughout the day, and this becomes worse if you spend a lot of time standing up. Although walking around prevents blood from pooling, the weak nature of your veins means it doesn't flow back to your heart as easily as it does from structures above chest-level. Because of this, the person assisting you with your shoe fitting may suggest wearing a pair that feels a little looser than usual at first. Providing they're not too loose, it's worth accepting that this is a dependable way to prevent them from feeling too tight as the day goes on.

Walk around and consider whether your feet flop about

Although a little looseness is acceptable, too much can lead to your feet flopping about. On the lesser end of the injury scale, this will mean that you encounter uncomfortable blisters. On the more serious side of matters, there's a risk that you'll trip easily, causing damage to more than just your feet. To assess whether your safety boots are too loose, consider whether you're walking in the same way as usual, or whether you need to pace yourself to maintain an even grip inside the shoes.

Spend a little time walking to detect red marks

You're going to spend a lot of time wearing your new boots, so dedicate a minimum of five minutes to walking around the store with them on. Take the boots and your socks off after and look for red marks. If any are present, try another pair and only invest in those that don't have the same effect.