Technology
Essential Footwear for Practical Learning Areas
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Ensuring student safety within practical learning environments is our highest priority.
In compliance with Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation (specifically referencing AS/NZS 2210), all students must wear mandatory protective footwear in all Technologies (TAS) practical spaces. These areas include:
- Food Technology (kitchens)
- Industrial Arts (workshops)
- Agricultural farms
The Footwear Requirement
The required footwear is defined as sturdy, fully enclosed leather shoes with a hard, non-slip sole. This specification is essential for protecting feet from common hazards such as spills, hot liquids, and potential falling objects such as tools or equipment.
Unacceptable footwear in these practical areas includes:
- Sport shoes, joggers, or canvas shoes (due to insufficient protective material/soft uppers).
- Skate shoes, sandals, open-toe shoes, or high heels.
Compliance on Sport Uniform Days
Our general uniform policy mandates formal covered leather shoes on Monday and Friday.
On Sport Uniform Days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), students must bring their required enclosed leather safety shoes and change into them prior to the start of any practical lesson.
Please note: Non-compliance with the correct safety footwear requirement will prevent the student from engaging in the hands-on practical activity. They will be assigned an alternative task, which may impact their skill development and successful achievement of course learning outcomes. In addition, where students repeatedly fail to adhere to the protective footwear regulation, teachers will engage with parents and carers.
Storage Options
To facilitate compliance, we encourage students to utilise their school lockers to safely store a dedicated pair of the required leather shoes throughout the week. This eliminates the necessity of transporting them daily.
Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a safe and effective learning environment for our students.
Should you have any questions, please contact me directly at cmerrick@arm.catholic.edu.au.
Yours sincerely,
Craig Merrick
Leader of Learning TAS
e) cmerrick@arm.catholic.edu.au