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!

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

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!

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.

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.

Though our shoes play a big role in keeping you healthy and productive, the most reasonable way to avoid slip-and-fall injuries starts not with your feet, but your head.

A little advance planning and awareness about the most common hazards can go a long way.  To help you focus on this, we’ve prepared some notes on the topic so you can better keep on your toes, and off your tush:

• The best protection is to ensure your workplace floors are clean and clear of debris and liquids.
• Always follow your employer’s workplace safety guidelines related to proper floor cleaning and maintenance.
• A few examples of our customer’s cleaning and maintenance guidelines are included below:
  1. Inspect and clean floors regularly.
  2. Attend to puddles or spills immediately before they spread out and can be tracked into other areas.
  3. Use signs or other tools to mark wet areas when they cannot be cleaned immediately.
  4. Properly clean floors with your employer’s required floor-cleaning solution.  All floor-cleaning solutions are most effective when applied per the instructions, so follow them carefully.
  5. Follow all additional safety guidelines as required by your employer.
• Carry only as much as you are able to handle safely, and ensure proper visibility when carrying oversized items.
• Keep hallways and walkways clear of boxes and other clutter.
• Walk Carefully.  There are many hazards and situations that occur in the normal course of work where walking at too fast of a pace creates a much greater risk of slips and falls.  A pace that is safe in one environment may create a hazard in another environment.  By walking carefully, you can greatly reduce the risk of a slip and fall due to changes in your environment and flooring conditions.
• It is of course not always possible to have clear and clean surfaces and the ideal environment to work in.  This is why slip resistant shoes exist.  Always wear slip resistant shoes.  All of SR Max’s slip resistant shoes are helpful at reducing slips and falls.  However, the soles do differ, and some soles are better than others. When purchasing from SR Max, always look for the “Best Slip Resistance” logo if you want the BEST shoes for overall effectiveness in oil, water and grease.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Maintaining vigilance, and wearing proper SR Max slip resistant shoes, is the ideal way to put your best foot forward on the job.

Shelly Frazier is a Customer Service Specialist who joined the SR Max team in February 2012. Here are her responses to our interview questions.

Q: Where is your favorite place to travel on vacation?
A: I prefer the mountains of North Carolina. Hiking, swimming and the beautiful scenery.

Q: Besides working at SR Max, what is one interesting job that you’ve had?
A:  I was a real estate broker for new construction, got to be a part of a lot of people’s lives, very personal.

Q:  How about some favorites… music?
A:  I listen to anything, but I love the 70’s.

Q: Sports teams?
A: Duke University Blue Devils.

Q: Food?
A: Sushi and wings. Not necessarily at the same time.

Q: Holiday?
A: Christmas. I get to travel and see family, get everyone together in one place. That’s great.

Q: Favorite shoe from the SR Max line?
A: Skechers D’Lites. They’re light, comfortable, and people don’t even know that it’s a slip resistant shoe.

Hopefully this gives you a bit of a look inside the life of some of our wonderful SR Max team. If you haven’t experienced our great customer service yet, give us a call! We’re here Monday through Friday, 8-5 EST and would be glad to answer any of your shoe questions, give recommendations and help you out in any way we can!

Photo Credit: http://curiositieschamber.com

All of the shoes listed in this post are sized in men’s sizes, because generally men have the most trouble getting a shoe large enough. However, if you are a woman looking for a large shoe, remember that your equivalent in men’s shoes is two sizes smaller. This means if you are a women’s size 10, you would wear a men’s size 8, and so on.

The first shoe we recommend for those who need big work shoes is our New Balance athletic sneaker. This all black slip resistant sneaker is available all the way up to a size 16. If you are concerned about width, it is available in a 4E as well as a D width. This shoe is a great choice for most situations that allow sneakers at work.

Another popular choice for those with large or wide feet is the Crocs Bistro. This Bistro is available as large as a 15 EW, plenty wide enough for just about any foot. Because there are a number of colors to choose from (blue, black, white, orange) this shoe is as versatile as it is comfortable.

If you work in an environment where a certain standard of dress is required, picking out shoes is hard enough without needing a large size. That’s where the SR Max Manhattan makes a smart choice. Not only is it our most popular slip resistant dress shoes and available in both black and brown, but the Manhattan is available all the way up to size 16 EW. All the comfort and style you need, in a size that fits your foot.

One more option: if you are in the rare category of person who wears a size 17 slip resistant shoe, we have an option for you! The SR Max Providence is available in size 17 by special request. If you need this style, please call us at 877-776-2933 during our regular business hours for more details.

Have you ever struggled to find shoes that are large enough? What solutions have you found in the past? Let us know in the comments below!

SR Max Malibu
The Malibu is a low-profile sneaker with black suede accents and a lace-up design. The lightweight design looks good with jeans, shorts or even khakis.

Skechers Sassies
The Sassies offer a stylish option for those who can have open-top shoes. The single elastic strap adds a delicate touch, and the slight heel emphasizes the more upscale design of this mary jane.

Crocs Grace Flat
If you love the feel of Crocs but don’t think a bright orange Bistro qualifies as “cute”, then the Grace Flat is the shoe for you. Simple, comfortable and versatile. What more could you want?

SR Max Victoria/SR Max Savannah
These two styles have a lot in common, from their slight wedge heel and slip-on design to their comfortable insole. If you prefer patent leather accents or if you’re more of a “bow” girl, these shoes offer adorable options to choose from.

Skechers Snapdragon
The Snapdragon is one of our most popular eurocasual sneakers. Available in black or white, this sporty looking shoe offers bungee laces for a comfortable fit that makes your foot look trim and sleek.

Timberland Five Star Caterina
Who says slip resistant doesn’t mean strappy? This cute mary jane style Timberland has an adjustable hook-and-loop enclosure for a comfortable, yet stylish, fit. Goes great with a skirt or dress pants.

Do you have a favorite slip resistant shoe that you think should have made our list? Let us know in the comments below, and tell us why!

John Rierson is one of our Inside Sales Representatives who joined the SR Max team in February 2012, and here are his responses to our interview questions.

Q: Where is your favorite place to travel on vacation?
A: North Carolina Beaches. I love going deep sea and shore fishing when I get the chance. If not the beach, I like hiking and canoeing in the mountains.

Q: Besides working at SR Max, what is one interesting job that you’ve had?
A: I would lean towards my time in Italy as a matador. It was grueling training, but there’s no rush quite like dodging the bulls in front of roaring crowds. Just kidding – actually, I spent six years as a mechanic in high school and college. You’d be amazed at the things you’d find fixing people’s cars.

Q:  How about some favorites… music?
A: I range from punk, classic rock, hip hop, country and good ol’ oldies.

Q: Sports teams?
A: Duke Blue Devils, Carolina Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Bulls.

Q: Food?
A: Italian – I can’t resistant strombolis, calzones and pizza.

Q: Holiday?
A: Tie between St. Patty’s Day and Halloween.

Q: Favorite shoe from the SR Max line?
A: The SR Max Providence – looks sharp, feels good and we can order it in larger sizes for special orders.

Hopefully this gives you a bit of a look inside the life of some of our wonderful SR Max team. If you haven’t experienced our great customer service yet, give us a call! We’re here Monday through Friday, 8-5 EST and would be glad to answer any of your shoe questions, give recommendations and help you out in any way we can!