John Shaw, Founder and Principal Engineer BootBoss
I have always been someone that sees a need and works hard to meet it, and this applies to both work and within the community. With an engineering background, one of the things that I love to do is to look at a problem or a way to do things more efficiently or safer, and produce a solution.
The BootBoss is a project I’ve really enjoyed working on as it provides a simple solution to a significant industry need. In fact, if left unchecked it can go beyond simple frustration to a become a safety risk and significant cost to the business.
Firstly, what is BootBoss? BootBoss is a simple but effective boot hanging solution for safe, hygienic, and easy storage of industrial work boots. With BootBoss the owner of the boots can confidently leave the work site at the end of the day knowing when they get back to work their boots will be where they left them. For the company, BootBoss provides a secure storage area for workers boots which is a real cost saver. I was surprised to find out that replacing lost or misplaced boots is a significant cost to large factories and mining companies. Who knew that a work boot could represent such a huge cost to running a business?
I first started working on the idea of BootBoss after speaking with people working in the mining industry who shared their own insights and frustrations around work boot storage. At the end of a busy day on site, wet and muddy boots were often kicked off by tired workers and left where they could become a trip hazard. Boots left out to dry was particularly an issue for FIFO workers, who on returning to site, found their boots had been moved or ‘gone walkabout’. When you realise that boots are typically unattended about 75% of the time, you can see that it’s something that needs attention. So when a simple pair of boots results in a whole lot of frustration for the worker as well as the company it seemed to me that there had to be a simple solution. Enter, BootBoss.
I am confident that BootBoss can make a real difference to workers across many industries, while helping companies meet their WH&S requirements, and reduce replacement boot costs. The BootBoss product has so many avenues for making a difference, from it being produced using recycled materials, to employing a diverse range of people, to partnering with and supporting other organisations that also seek to make a positive impact on worksites. For me personally, I am excited to be bringing a simple, effective solution to a common problem.
If we can help workers start and finish their day on the right foot (in the right boots!), plus do plenty of good for those that need it, then I will consider the BootBoss project a great success.
Please connect with me through the website or on LinkedIN and message me directly with any questions on how our solution might work for you.