Diamond Grip for work boots avoids slips and falls on snow
Common sense suggests that on-the-job falls on snow and ice can have serious and costly consequences, but a recent study released by the state of Maine indicates just how serious those consequences can be. “They may not do a lot of oil drilling in Maine, but they would certainly know about working outdoors in snow and ice,” said Steve Couder, vice president of Sales at ICEtrekkers. “Gas and oil extraction is a year-round activity, and as more and more of it is being done in northern climates, we’re seeing more interest in Diamond Grip from that industry.”
The Maine report Couder cites uses information from a Maine Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) database and focuses on an 18-month period from January 2012 through June 2013. Over that period at least 1,035 Maine employees submitted lost-time injury claims due to slips and falls on ice and snow, about five percent of total lost-time claims. According to the report, slip and fall injuries on ice and snow have led to more than 25,000 days of lost time each year. (The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the cost of the average slip and fall injury to be about $28,000.) The Maine report’s conclusion suggests that most efforts to alleviate the problem “are in the form of suggestions for others to follow rather than coordinated approaches involving employers, workers and others …”
For those interested in offering more than suggestions, there is Diamond Grip. In just seconds, Diamond Grip attaches dozens of case hardened, alloy steel grippers to the bottom of a shoe or boot. The patented six-pointed “diamond beads” are strung on steel aircraft cable and put literally hundreds of biting edges under the heel and the ball of the foot to grip the slickest ice or hardest-packed snow. Unlike spikes, Diamond Grip’s unique design spreads load evenly from heel to toe, eliminating uncomfortable “hotspots.” And the rubber sling that secures Diamond Grips to a shoe or boot never touches the walking surface, eliminating wear.
Diamond Grips are designed for all day wear on ice and snow, are durable enough for the transition across asphalt and cement, and are easy to put on and take off for workers who have to get in and out of vehicles. Diamond Grip goes on in one smooth motion and stays on until you’re ready to slip it off. The patented gripper design is self-clearing so there is no risk of icing up and losing traction, and the cleats are comfortable enough to wear all day and durable enough to last for years.
“Over the last three years we’ve sold tens of tens of thousands of pairs of Diamond Grip to oil and gas companies, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, emergency medical technicians, utility companies, and industrial workers,” said Couder. “Many companies require their workers to use Diamond Grips for winter work.
“In designing ICEtrekkers we examined all the products out there to improve on their strengths and eliminate their weaknesses. Diamond Grip is unique in that only the steel links and case hardened steel traction beads contact the ground, for maximum durability. The resilient rubber stays tough and maintains elasticity at sub-zero temperatures; just ask our users on Alaska’s North Slope. You can put them on or take them off in seconds wearing winter gloves, and they grip like nothing else you can buy.”
