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The wearers of our shoes are no strangers to slippery floors. Grease, water, oil, and liquified fats are daily hazards to be overcome in most foodservice, restaurant, grocery, healthcare and even hospitality worksites. Over the years, we have learned from a variety of feedback sources that our slip resistant shoes perform extraordinarily well under these conditions. Now outside testing has confirmed it.

UL LLC, a global independent safety science company with more than a century of promoting safe working environments, conducted what we like to call “The Crisco Test.”

In this lab-controlled experiment, worn, smooth, greasy Sima Italian Red Quarry Tile was smeared with three grams of Crisco Shortening. On a scale where 0.0 is the absence of friction and 1.0 is friction (e.g., dry carpet), SR Max’s top rating of 0.78 was heads and shoulders above the competition. In fact, SR Max’s Arlington, Dover and Huntington slip resistant shoes received some of the highest industry ratings overall.

With safety always being a paramount concern, we’re obviously pleased with the independent testing results. What sets us apart even further from the competition (in our humble opinion) is our commitment to safety, comfort and style. Our mission has always been to deliver slip resistant shoes that look good and feel great. When you invest in a pair of our shoes, you’re investing in your daily comfort.

Slippery floors are always a hazard to be respected.  A great first “step” is to choose an outsole that provides maximum slip resistance in your environment.  With these UL test results, you can know that SR Max Brand slip resistant footwear beats the competition in grease and so if you work in grease SR Max Brand shoes are a great choice for you!

In 2011, slips, trips and falls were the second most common event or exposure leading to a work injury or illness, accounting for an incidence rate of 29.7 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And these add up to a lot of pain and money spent. Combined, falls on the same level and falls to a lower level were the number one cause for all disabling injury costs in 2010, representing a cost to employers of nearly $14 billion, according to Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety. It’s a hefty price for an accident that could have been prevented!

With so much that can be done to lessen the likelihood of a workplace slip, it is shameful that they are so prevalent.

Some occupations come with greater hazards for slips.  For instance, restaurants often have areas near the kitchen where spills occur frequently, setting the stage for a slip.  The same is true of grocery stores where slick foods or liquids may make their way to the floor, causing more slippery surfaces than the norm.

Managers and workers in these and other high-risk industries should learn to identify shoe soles that are more slip resistant. At SR Max, our Max Trax outsole is the model for slip resistance and the best choice for all industries needing slip resistant shoes. Beware of worn down soles and soles that are flat or have a flat edge of the outsole. Tread on the Max Trax outsole is shaped into patterns to allow liquids to disperse into the cutout areas and allow more rubber to grip the floor.

When shopping for a slip resistant shoe, remember the space and depth of the tread are important. Yes, we want you to choose SR Max – our shoes are the safest available. But most importantly, we want to keep workers safe and uninjured.

Quote of the Month

“I wore my SR Max shoes to work, but brought along my old shoes just in case I needed to break in the new ones. Lo and behold, I didn’t have to as they were so comfortable! They’re really nice looking and worth every penny.

- Tracy C

The days when your only choice for slip-resistant shoes looked like something your grandparent wore are long gone, thanks to SR Max’s excellent shoe designers and our partnership with a variety of top brands.

We all know Reebok shoes as an American-inspired brand that builds products for the sports and fitness categories for both men and women.  SR Max is pleased to announce a new partnership between our company and Reebok, which has manifested itself in our March Shoe of the Month!  The new black Reebok Athletic has the distinct look of Reebok and the traction only available through SR Max.  For March, we are offering the shoe for only $44.99 – a discount of more than 20 percent.  Please use promo code “marchsotm” at checkout to receive your discount.

As exciting as it is to be able to offer the coolest shoes and the latest looks, we never lose sight of our overall goal – accident prevention.  Of course, wearing SR Max shoes is the best protection against unseen hazards in the workplace, but there are many other things you and your co-workers should do to take precautions and prevent accidents.

Remember these tips:

• Carry only what you can manage safely and ensure proper visibility when carrying oversized items.
• Inspect floors regularly and clean up spills or puddles immediately.
• Use rubber mats in areas where floors are persistently damp.
• Keep walkways free of boxes and clutter.
• Be cognizant of ice during the winter months, as it can be a hard-to-see and dangerous hazard.  Use appropriate ice clearing practices.

We have made work safety our responsibility, but remind you that it is all of our responsibility.  Work hard and work safe!

Fly kicks. Fancy footwear. Sweet boots.

For generations, we’ve strived to make sure the shoes we wear are reflective of the personality we exude. The one place where this has been somewhat elusive has been at the workplace. If you are a foodservice, restaurant or grocery worker, you know what we mean. Black slabs of vinyl and rubber that look like they were designed to torture.

We are happy to report that there’s a way that you can be sheik and stylish at work while still staying in compliance of your boss’ safety shoe policy. If you are new to SR Max Slip Resistant Shoes or haven’t picked up our catalog lately, we want to remind you what makes us really special. Not just for the patented tread that will keep you on your feet at work; but because we know that individuality is important to the individual.

Simply put, there is no need to sacrifice style for functionality with SR Max. With over 140 styles of shoes from 10 of your favorite brands (plus our own highly-regarded brand), there is a style of shoe that will match any attire.  SR Max offers athletic, casual, dress, and work style shoes that range from boots to sneakers to dress shoes and much more.

For men and women, young and old, there is a shoe that will coordinate with any style or dress.  SR Max’s vast selection of brands, including Rockport, Reebok, Dr. Martens, Skechers, and Timberland, just to name a few, means that you will look like YOU – from head to toe.

SR Max’s style and comfort was even mentioned recently on Yahoo answers.  A young woman in her 20s, who works in the restaurant industry, questioned where to find comfortable yet stylish work shoes; other users responded recommending SR Max.  At SR Max, customers receive the best selection, best outsole technology, and the most variety in style and brand of shoe.  There is no need to sacrifice style for slip-resistance.

20 pairs of shoes bound for homeless clients of the outreach agency

GREENSBORO, NC (January 16, 2013) – Thanks to the attentive generosity of legions of fans of SR Max Slip Resistant Shoes, 20 homeless clients of Greensboro’s Urban Ministry outreach agency will be able to work toward their life goals while wearing a free pair of the company’s shoes.

SR Max Slip Resistant Shoes, and its parent company, Saf-Gard, will make the donation next week, following the conclusion of their “Back on Your Feet Facebook Sweepstakes.”  Over the course of the contest, the company pledged to give away 10 pairs of shoes to new fans of its Facebook page, and 20 brand new pairs to a designated charity, during a 10-day period that ends this Friday.

“This is a really fantastic donation.  Shoes are really important for people to get out into jobs, and jobs are the way out of homelessness,” stated the Rev. Mike Aiken, Executive Director at the Greensboro Urban Ministry.  “We hope to end homelessness in Guilford County in the near future.”

“We are very excited to make this donation to the Urban Ministry of Greensboro and to have the opportunity to give back to the community in which we work,” said Pat Kubis, president of SR Max. “The ‘Back on Your Feet Facebook Sweepstakes’ was a great way of engaging our fans and connecting with them online, and this donation is a fitting grand finale.”

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About SR Max Slip Resistant Shoes (www.srmax.com)

SR Max is focused on bringing “Slip Resistant Shoes You Love from the Brands You Know and Trust” to consumers nationwide. Its passion for “Service after the Fitting” has helped them partner with more than 25,000 work locations in the U.S., making them the fastest growing slip resistant shoe provider in the country. They are focused on bringing stylish, comfortable and safe footwear to the grocery, food service, hospitality, healthcare and manufacturing industries. Their own SR Max brand of shoes features industry leading slip resistant and comfort technologies, so employees can stay safe and feel good all shift long. Other available brands include Converse, Crocs, Doc Martens, KEEN, New Balance, Rockport, Timberland, Skechers, Dickies and many more.