Anti-Static, ESD & Electrical Safety Shoes: Which Do You Need?

1. Anti-Static (100kΩ to 1,000MΩ)

Anti-static safety shoes are designed to prevent the buildup of static electricity on the wearer's body. When you walk across a surface, friction generates a static charge. In everyday life, this results in a harmless zap when you touch a metal railing. In an industrial environment — around flammable solvents, dust, or gas — that same discharge can cause an explosion. Anti-static shoes maintain resistance between 100 kilohms (10⁵Ω) and 1,000 megohms (10⁹Ω), allowing charge to drain away gradually through the sole to the ground. This is the most common type of electrical protection in Indian factories. The entire Komisafe PU range is anti-static per IS 15298 Part 2.

2. ESD / Electrostatic Dissipative (100kΩ to 35MΩ)

ESD safety shoes operate within a tighter resistance window — 100 kilohms (10⁵Ω) to 35 megohms (3.5 × 10⁷Ω). The narrower range ensures a more controlled, predictable discharge rate. Why does this matter? Because in electronics manufacturing, even a tiny uncontrolled discharge (as low as 20 volts) can destroy a microchip, corrupt a circuit board, or damage a semiconductor wafer worth thousands of rupees. ESD shoes are part of a complete ESD control programme that includes wrist straps, grounded workstations, and conductive flooring. They're not just shoes — they're one link in an anti-static chain.

3. Electrical Hazard / Insulating (Very High Resistance)

Electrical hazard (EH) safety shoes do the opposite of anti-static shoes. Instead of draining charge, they block it. EH-rated soles provide extremely high insulation resistance, protecting the wearer from electric shock when accidentally stepping on or contacting live circuits up to 600 volts. These shoes are essential for electricians, power plant workers, and anyone working near exposed wiring or energised equipment. EH shoes must never be confused with anti-static shoes — they serve fundamentally opposite purposes.

Oil & Gas, Refineries, Chemical Plants

Flammable vapours and combustible dust are present across refineries and chemical processing facilities. A static spark from a worker's body can ignite these materials. Anti-static shoes ensure continuous charge drainage, eliminating the ignition risk. The Komisafe Rocky (₹1,799) — with its anti-static PU sole and rugged construction — is purpose-built for these harsh environments.

General Manufacturing & Assembly

Automotive plants, steel fabrication units, and FMCG factories all benefit from anti-static protection. It's a baseline safety feature that prevents nuisance shocks, reduces dust attraction on clean room-adjacent floors, and meets the requirements of most factory safety audits. The Komisafe Aviator (₹1,499) delivers anti-static compliance alongside double-density PU comfort — making it the most popular choice for facilities choosing PU over PVC.

Warehousing & Logistics

Modern warehouses with epoxy-coated or polished concrete floors generate significant static charge from foot traffic. Workers handling packaging materials, plastic wrap, and cardboard experience frequent static discharge. Anti-static shoes eliminate these shocks, improving comfort and reducing the risk of igniting packaging dust in enclosed spaces. The lightweight Komisafe Knight (₹1,399) with its high-ankle support is ideal for workers moving across large warehouse floors.

Where ESD Shoes Are Mandatory

Electronics assembly lines (mobile phones, computers, medical devices), semiconductor fabrication facilities, PCB manufacturing and soldering stations, data centres and server rooms, aerospace component assembly, and defence electronics manufacturing. In these environments, the International Electrotechnical Commission standard IEC 61340-5-1 governs ESD control, and footwear must be tested and certified to the tighter 100kΩ to 35MΩ range. India's growing electronics manufacturing sector — driven by the PLI scheme — is rapidly increasing demand for ESD-compliant PPE.

ESD Shoes Are Part of a System

An ESD shoe alone does not guarantee protection. The entire pathway from worker to ground must be controlled: conductive or dissipative flooring, grounded workstations, wrist straps, and humidity-controlled environments all play a role. ESD shoes are one component in the IEC 61340 compliance chain. If your floor is non-conductive, even the best ESD shoes cannot dissipate charge effectively — a critical detail many procurement teams miss.

Who Needs EH Shoes?

Electricians, power plant technicians, linemen, panel board operators, and maintenance staff working on energised equipment. EH-rated shoes provide a secondary layer of protection (the primary being lockout-tagout procedures and insulated tools) against accidental contact with circuits up to 600 volts. In India, this category typically follows international standards like ASTM F2413 since BIS standards primarily address anti-static properties.

Critical Warning: Never Substitute

Using anti-static shoes for electrical work — or EH shoes in a flammable environment — is a life-threatening mistake. Anti-static shoes are designed to conduct charge to ground; wearing them while stepping on a live wire creates a path for current through your body. Conversely, EH shoes in a refinery prevent static drainage, allowing dangerous charge buildup. The names sound similar, but the physics are opposite. Always match the shoe type to the specific hazard.

Assuming "anti-static" means "electrically insulating"

Anti-static shoes drain charge — they do not insulate against live current. For electrical work, you need EH-rated shoes. This is the most dangerous confusion in the industry.

Specifying ESD shoes when anti-static is sufficient

ESD shoes cost more and require compatible flooring to work. If your facility handles general manufacturing — not sensitive electronics — anti-static shoes like the Komisafe range meet the requirement at a lower cost.

Ignoring floor conductivity

Both anti-static and ESD shoes rely on a conductive path to ground through the floor. Insulating floor coverings (rubber mats, thick paint) can negate the shoe's properties entirely. Test your flooring before specifying footwear.

Not re-testing shoes periodically

Electrical resistance changes as soles wear, absorb moisture, or accumulate contaminants. Anti-static and ESD shoes should be tested regularly — especially in critical environments — to confirm they still fall within the specified resistance range.

Using one shoe type for all workers

A factory may need anti-static shoes for production staff, EH shoes for the electrical maintenance team, and ESD shoes in the electronics testing lab. One specification rarely fits all roles.