MAGNUM TESTIMONIAL
03rd March 2009
Dear Major Lee (Ryca (Military) Pte Ltd, Singapore),
Thank you for your prompt attention and your, as usual, very good service. I bought my first pair of Magnum Stealth Force Boots in a shop in Singapore back in 1999. These served me extremely well throughout Africa, Indonesia and all places out here in South East Asia. My original Magnums were not safety boots (I was then unaware that such existed) – but all the same, protected my Ankles and Feet extremely well until 2006 – when they finally bit the dust (literally speaking)! While I was knocking down and shipping out a drilling rig from the Mountains South of Bandung, a mixture of 7 years of hard use topped up with 2 weeks constant immersion in Volcanic Ash, Mud and Oil was more than any normal footwear could be expected to reasonably withstand.
The main reason for wearing non‐toecap boots during those years in the past was largely due to the fact that the Singapore market only had ‘Ah‐Beng’ type safety boots available – which truly are not Safety‐Boots at all – although worn by all kinds of expat Oil and offshore workers as standard supplied PPE. I personally reckon that these boots have been instrumental in a large number of accidents ensuing from slipping or actually losing the boot in awkward locations. Those are positively lethal on wet and oily surfaces.
On my return to Singapore, I went looking for another pair of Magnums – found none but looked up Magnum on the internet – and as such you; Major Lee and I became supplier and customer. I bought 2 pairs from you at that time in 2006. One was a pair of 5501 Magnum Stealth Safety Boot and the other a pair of standard Magnum Stealth for non-work use.
My Stealth Safety boots have since seen heavy industrial use – mostly on ships and in various filthy Ports out here in SEA as well as in the Oil Field amongst the usual steel and various debris and onboard FPSO’s, OSV’s and SBM’s. I can safely say that until 15th of February this year – although they looked scruffy from really hard wear, they have been faithful and reliable travelling companions for 3 years.
On the 15th February this year at 1810 hrs lt (Thailand Standard Time) – a 40 foot, 25 MT Ton containers’ Lock-Box was accidentally placed on the front end of my Right boot – the safety Boot initially took the full weight until the box was fully landed. The stevedoring crew reacted on my command with alacrity and hoisted the FEU clear of my foot – upon which I promptly left the work area. When removing the boot – thanks to the fact that the Toe Cap is not steel but a composite material, this had sprung back to its original shape due to its memory – therefore the boot was easily removable – also very much thanks to its full length side-zip and I found on initial inspection that: “My big toe had suffered an open fracture – the 4 other toes had been compressed, but on subsequent X‐Ray confirmation had suffered no other damage than severe bruising.
The damage was easily rectifiable at Bangkok Hospital at Rayong, (whose medical facilities I can not praise high enough) through surgery inserting a Steel Pin locking the bones in my big toe together and some stitching to close the wound. FFYI: On travelling to the Hospital I had to put the boot back on as I had to get off ship and drive myself to the Hospital. Bangkok Hospital discharged me the following morning; I was back onboard by lunchtime on the 16th instant undertaking slightly less active duties – but still getting my ship out on time.
The conclusion of this experience has to me been as follows and in my opinion:
1. Anyone working or visiting any Ships Cargo Area, Engine Rooms, Power Stations or any kind of Oil Field Installations or any construction site in general NOT wearing Non Slip Soles and Composite Toe Cap, ‘Lace-Up’ Safety Boots should have their insurance revoked – no matter what the damage would be to a non-wearer in the case of an accident/incident. In particular with the very comfortable, Modern High Quality Safety Footwear such as yours – there is no excuse whatsoever for not wearing this part of the PPE on any work-site.
2. I have seen some severe damage to peoples feet and toes over the years where the Steel Toe-Cap has collapsed or been severely compromised with the result that; what would have been compression damage has become amputation due to the collapse of the Steel Toe-Cap.
3. The Composite Toe-Cap obviously has a memory and as such attempts to spring back to its original shape – under circumstances like in mine where the loading on the Toe-Cap has exceeded the ASTME requirements with about 100% - it may be compromised in compression, but goes back to a shape that do not hamper the removal of the boot in any way. This is a critical safety issue – I still have a vivid recollection from some years back of cutting up someone’s boot to recover his foot from the steel toe-cap.
4. The flexibility of the sole is such that it vastly assists in absorbing the compression/impact which is another factor in ensuring that my foot is still intact.
5. The soles have so far proved to have a superior grip – and I can only recommend these boots to anyone working in Hazardous wet or oil contaminated areas.
6. Apart from that this footwear protects ones Ankles and Feet and ‘breathes’ - as such avoiding ‘trench foot’ when you have to spend an 18 hour plus day in a soggy boot during the rainy season – has by now a proven (to me) record in safety – they are also remarkably light and very, very nice to wear during our long working hours.
After this recent experience – I see no excuse for any site visitor, whatever their position, having any reason for not donning safety boots – and in particular with boots as well designed, light and as comfortable to wear as the Magnums – they should be part of any full time or temporary field operatives travel kit.
Kind regards,
Bjorn Cook, CoBro Engineering, 28/02/09
