Rock Fall UK recently received a glowing health and safety industry endorsement for its innovative Tomcat range of metatarsal total protection footwear, having made it through as a finalist in the BSIF Product Innovation Awards at this year’s Safety and Health Expo. A panel, made up of influential figures from leading publishing, trade and industry organisations selected Rock Fall’s entry, having vigorously judged the boots against criteria including: unique concept, design and performance and technology new to the health and safety industry.
The awards, organised by the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), the leading trade body within the safety industryin the UK, are held to help raise the standards of health and safety by recognising excellence in customer service, product innovation and improvement in occupational health and safety.
Staged every May at Birmingham’s NEC, Safety and Health Expo is by far Europe’s largest annual event of its kind, attracting over 19,000 industry professionals who come to visit nearly 300 trade stands, one of which Rock Fall UK proudly occupied. As well as showing its Tomcat range of safety boots and accompanying Product Innovation Awards Finalist certificate, visitors could also see Rock Fall’s extensive line of complete safety work wear and accessories.
Expressing delight in his company’s achievement, Rock Fall’s Managing Director, Stephen Noon commented: °We’ve spent over two years developing our Tomcat metatarsal footwear range. We’re thrilled to receive this award, which to us is a real vote of confidence from the industry that we’ve done a good job, producing a stylish range of boots that protect the wearer’s entire foot.”
The range is the very first to exceed S3 European Safety Standards. The main design feature is a patented, integral metatarsal protector: a lightweight, flexible inner plate that protects the wearer’s fragile metatarsal bones from impact. In addition, user’s toes and sole are guarded with a metal toecap and steel mid-sole. Using full grain leather and Rock Fall’s unique Activ-step foot-bed for supreme comfort, the boots also feature rubber outsoles constructed for the highest durability and are able to withstand heat up to 300oC. Developed with the wearer and their specific working environment in mind, the range also includes a fully waterproof design.
Being a triumphant first entry into BSIF’s Product Innovation Awards, on his company’s plans for future awards, Stephen Noon remarked: “The Tomcat range is just one example of our advanced approach to product development and we’ve a broad range of equally innovative products in development. This year’s achievement was, pardon the pun, a major step forward, but hopefully a taste of years to come.”