When it comes to the medical and health care fields, shoe covers are just a part of the everyday work environment – it would be fair to say that they are practically even taken for granted. But thanks to the convenient protection provided by disposable shoe covers, their use in other applications beyond the health care industry is becoming increasingly widespread.
Clearly, there is a difference between medical-grade shoe covers and those intended for less critical use. For example, medical-grade covers are made from special barrier-type materials that aid in the prevention and spread of disease and infection. On the other hand, other types of shoe covers used in a variety of everyday applications are instead intended to protect the shoes being worn, or the surroundings of the place in which they will be worn, from dirt and other contaminants.
Shoe Covers In The Health Care Field
Medical shoe covers feature extra strength and safety features, such as added traction on the bottom sole of the cover. Most often, medical shoe covers are made from a sterile spun-bound polypropylene plastic material.
- Shoe covers are frequently worn as part of a scrubs uniform.
- They are always worn during surgery by all personnel in the operating room.
- Wearing shoe covers helps keeps the medical environment sterile, reducing the chances of infection.
In a critical environment, such as surgery, no chances can be taken – therefore, special medical-grade shoe covers are commonplace.
Other Practical Shoe Cover Uses
Thanks to the affordable convenience and protection they provide, shoe covers are also being used in a variety of businesses and industries. Here are just a few practical non-medical applications:
- Real estate tours and open houses
- Construction and repair workers working inside a home
- To protect and waterproof shoes in dirty or muddy outdoor situations
- Automotive detailers and technicians
With disposable shoe covers readily available for practically any situation, there is no longer any excuse for tracking in dirt or mud onto a home’s flooring or an automobile’s carpet.
Shoe Cover Sizes
While some shoe covers are available in a one-size-fits-all solution, for enhanced safety, it is important to select a sized or fitted option that most precisely fits over the shoes being worn. Wearing the proper size of shoe covers will help prevent any trips, slips, or falls caused by the excess material.
Grip And Traction
Different types of grips and anti-skid traction choices are available with disposable shoe covers. Some have no added traction at all and can be quite slippery – obviously these types of shoe covers would not ever be used in the critical environments that the medical profession often requires. Another important grip consideration is whether or not the gripping material is designed to be mark and scuff free.
Those of you working in the medical and health care industries probably already realize the importance of wearing the proper shoe covers – they provide the extra level of protection needed in a critical workplace environment. Plus, more and more often, shoe covers can also be a great idea for protection in so many other uses as well.