Shoe Repair

· welted leather shoe repair (stitching)
· cemented - on sole repair (where adhesives and a press are involved)
· stuck on sole repair (covers the original worn sole)
· top piece attaching. (replacement of wearing surface of the heel of a shoe).
· Heel attaching (replacement of the heel base and wearing surface)
· upper stitching

- A pneumatic press is brought down onto the shoe, applying pressure while the adhesive sets.
- Slow movement of the pressing head means guarding is not usually necessary due to the low trapping risk. However if the maximum speed is greater than 50mm per second additional operator safety devices should be provided (e.g two hand controls).
- Where heel attaching machines are manually operated no additional safeguards are necessary. Pneumatically powered machines present trapping hazards and should be provided with two-hand control devices or equivalent.

- Stapling and nailing machines are hand-held pneumatically operated tools for attaching thermoplastic type top pieces. Use and maintenance should be in accordance with Guidance Note PM17 - Pneumatic nailing and stapling tools, and in particular:-

(a) guarded trigger.
(b) quick release couplings in the airline to the tool.
(c) examination by competent person weekly.
(d) disconnection from air supply when not in use.

- Consist of one or more continuous abrasive scouring bands.
- Bands to be enclosed as much as practicable (usually no more than 180° arc exposed)
- Where pulley shafts and spindles are accessible, they should be guarded (in many cases by loose sleeving as the most practicable method).

- These include polishing equipment (any exposed shafting to be adequately guarded), edge cutting machines (generally protection is afforded by the dust collection hood or a spring loaded retractable guard).

- These may be used to regularly regrind and sharpen rotary cutters.
- Details on abrasive wheels can be found in the Abrasive Wheels element of this Information System.

- Used to seal the soles and heels by heat and wax treatment. The tool used consists of a heated stepped hollow cone.
- The hexagon nut or other securing fixture at the end of the shaft must be properly shrouded.

- Dangerous parts requiring secure guarding include (note: this is not an exhaustive list)

(a) shafting
(b) flat belts and pulleys (unless the belt is less than 50 mm wide on a non-flanged pulley and so slack as not to be dangerous)
(c) vee belts and pulleys
(d) gear wheels
(e) set-screws, belts or keys on revolving parts should be guarded or countersunk.

- All guards should be properly maintained and correctly adjusted.

- Indications are that exposure to high levels of dust (most probably leather dust) in boot and shoe manufacture can lead to nasal cancer.
- The risk in footwear repair premises is thought to be substantially smaller as the processes creating leather dust are carried on less intensively.
- Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) should reduce exposure to the dust to the greatest extent that is reasonable practicable.
- Any dust levels greater than:-
- (i) 10 mg/m³ (8 hour time weighted average) of total
inhalable dust; or
(ii) 4 mg/m3 (8 hour time weighted average) of respirable dusts will be covered by COSHH.
- Advice on control is given in EH 44 : Dust : general principles of protection. Precautions should include the following:-

(a) proper use and maintenance of LEV.
(b) maintenance procedures to be specified and to include daily, weekly and six monthly checks.
(c) keeping records relating to the above.
(d) examining the immediate surroundings - if horizontal surfaces are contaminated, it is likely the extraction equipment needs looking at.

- In footwear repair premises it is unlikely that operatives will be exposed to harmful concentrations of solvent vapours, provided that:-

(a) there is an effective and appropriately arranged ventilation system, including fresh air intake.
(b) solvents and adhesives are stored in properly stoppered containers when not in use.
(c) protective clothing/suitable equipment for applying the adhesives and cements is provided and used.
(d) there is a prohibition on smoking.