Evaluation of the anti-perforation textile insole test method following the standard NF EN ISO 20344 : 2012

A study was performed following accidents on worksites where employees had their feet perforated by nails, despite wearing anti-perforation shoes. The objective of the study was to evaluate the test of penetration resistance coming from the standard NF EN ISO 20344: 2012 and to develop a new test method adapted to textile inserts and representative of real use conditions. To do this, it was necessary to evaluate the following parameters:
· the limit value of perforation force to protect employees,
· nail geometry: shape, diameter, angle, truncation,
· penetration velocity,
· sample clamping platen hole diameter.
The INRS recommends a new limit value of 1300N for perforation force and the modification of the nail. Its choice is a nail with a pyramidal shape, with a diameter of 3 mm, a truncation of 1mm and an angle of 30°.
Five inserts taken from the market were tested and none of them satisfied these new recommendations.
For the tests of steel inserts in the standard NF EN ISO 20344: 2012, the nail is well dimensioned and is not called into question.