Your feet can take a pounding in the workplace. The daily demands of your job – walking, standing for long periods, lifting, jumping on or off machinery – all place your feet under pressure. While you are working your feet may absorb up to three times your body weight and working feet can travel up to 24 kilometres in a day! The work environment itself can create health risks for your feet. Hazardous conditions – oily or slippery floors, wet conditions, or extreme heat or cold – put feet at risk of injury and can lead to foot problems.
Stress fractures, sprains, strains, corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, chilblains, and tinea are some of the foot problems which can occur in the workplace or be aggravated at work. Problems such as calluses, corns, and blisters can be caused by pressure.
If your feet do not fit properly into standard shoes or boots, then you are more likely to experience pressure-related foot problems. Deep arches or pains in the arch, ball of the foot or heel may be related to muscle strain, which is associated with poor foot posture – correcting or improving foot posture can reduce strain.
As even minor irritations can reduce your mobility and productivity, it is important to seek help for all foot ailments including sore or tired feet. Individual assessment and advice from a podiatrist is recommended.
In almost every workplace there is the risk of trips, slips and falls, or objects falling or rolling on to feet. Be aware of foot hazards and use foot-safe work practices and use the necessary footwear to protect your feet.
Regardless of your workplace – office, shop, warehouse, or restaurant – comfortable, properly fitted footwear is essential to maintaining foot health. Appropriate footwear can protect your feet by insulating them against cold, preventing them from getting wet or by cushioning them from the impact of your job. In many workplaces safety shoes/boots are necessary to protect against environmental risks but they also need to be comfortable and correctly fitted.
As an employer you can prevent foot problems at work by:
As an employee, you can maintain your foot health by:
At AC Podiatry we have a special interest in Occupational Podiatry both preventing and treating injuries in the work place. We have provided on site visits, educational seminars and employee screening to companies in the manufacturing, viticulture and agricultural sectors with great success. We would love the opportunity to work with you to improve the foot health of your business.
Address: Level 1, 132-134 Fosters Road HILLCREST SA 5086
This location is a Bupa Members First provider.
Our Oakden clinic is located on Level One of the Oakden Medical Centre. The building is a two storey white building on the eastern side of Fosters Road, before reaching the Northgate Shopping Centre.
Accessibility: Lift and ramp facilities, disabled parking.
Parking: Onsite free car parking, ample street parking.
Restroom Facilities: Yes
Opening Hours:
Monday 8am – 7pm
Tuesday 8am – 6pm
Wednesday 8am – 6pm
Thursday 8am – 5pm
Friday Closed
Address: 101 Halifax Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000
This location is a Bupa Members First provider.
Our Adelaide CBD clinic is located on the southern side of Halifax Street, between Pulteney Street and King William Road. Our building can be found opposite the Rob Roy Hotel.
Accessibility: Located on the ground floor.
Parking: Onsite patient car parking (directly out the front), ample free street parking.
Restroom Facilities: Yes
Opening Hours:
Tuesday 8am – 4pm
Friday 8am – 3pm
Address: 500 Magill Road, MAGILL SA 5072
Our Magill clinic is located inside the Move for Better Health Building working alongside iNform Health and Fitness, Move Physiotherapy, and NLC Psychology. This clinic can be found on the corner of Briant Road and Magill Road.
Accessibility: Ramp facilities, located on ground floor, disabled parking.
Parking: Onsite free car parking, ample street parking.
Restroom Facilities: Yes
Opening Hours:
Tuesday 9am – 5pm
Thursday 10am – 5pm
Address: 277 Unley Road, MALVERN SA 5061
Our Malvern clinic is located inside the Move for Better Health Building working alongside iNform Health and Fitness, Move Physiotherapy, and NLC Psychology. This clinic can be found on the corner of Fisher Street and Unley Road.
Accessibility: Ramp facilities, located on ground floor, disabled parking.
Parking: Onsite free car parking, ample street parking.
Restroom Facilities: Yes
Opening Hours:
Monday 8am – 1pm
Wednesday 8am – 4pm
Saturday 8am – 12pm
