Oliverland Consulting
Procurement Policy – Occupational Footwear Fit Education – ROI
Field Studies & Operational Insights
These field studies combine research findings, real-world observations, and professional feedback to highlight the relationship between occupational footwear fit, injury risk, and operational performance.
The objective is to provide organisations with practical insights to improve equipment decisions, reduce preventable injuries, and optimise long-term costs.
Field Study 01 – From Acute Sprain to Long-Term Cost
In a study of French paratroopers, Schmitt et al. (2020) reported that 43.1% of soldiers with a previous ankle sprain developed chronic ankle instability, often associated with persistent pain and reduced mobility.
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Key Insight
An apparently minor ankle sprain can evolve into a long-term condition when early management and proper footwear fit are insufficient.
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Organisational Impact
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Increased medical and rehabilitation costs
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Reduced operational capacity
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Long-term absenteeism and workforce limitations
Ill-fitting boots are a recognised contributing factor to ankle sprains. When misfit is normalised and early treatment is delayed, preventable chronic conditions accumulate over time.
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Implication for Decision-Makers
Effective prevention requires addressing both footwear fit and injury awareness. A structured approach can significantly reduce long-term costs while protecting workforce performance.
This highlights the importance of fitting knowledge and foot injury awareness, which form the foundation of effective prevention strategies addressed in CFFP-1.
Field Study 02 – Procurement Policy Mismatch
A pilot study of the Canadian Armed Forces (Dyck, 2000) revealed a striking pattern: despite offering multiple boot widths, over 90% of personnel wore ill-fitting footwear, often selecting longer sizes to compensate for insufficient width.
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Key Insight
Providing multiple sizes or widths does not ensure proper fit without an effective selection process.
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Organisational Impact
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Inefficient allocation of equipment
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Persistent discomfort despite investment
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Increased risk of preventable injuries
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This highlights that procurement policies must be supported by structured sizing decisions and appropriate distribution systems.
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Implication for Decision-Makers
Procurement strategies should integrate product specifications (sizes and widths), fitting processes, and user feedback to ensure effective outcomes.
Oliverland Consulting supports organisations in optimising procurement strategies through CFFP-2.
Field Study 03 – Why the Fitting Process Matters
During a field discussion, one professional described being issued three pairs of footwear, all labelled size 41: two pairs of boots from different brands and one pair of sports shoes. One pair felt acceptable, he accepted all. Later when he tried the shoes, the other pair of boots was too small, and the sport shoes could not be worn at all.
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Result : too late for an exchange. He bought one pair of sport shoes at his own expenses, and exchange a bigger size of the other pair of boots.
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Key Insight
The fitting process is often insufficient — relying on size labels alone, without proper testing and comparison, significantly reduces the likelihood of achieving a correct fit.
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Organisational Impact
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Inconsistent equipment decisions
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Variability between brands and models
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Increased risk of discomfort and injury
This case highlights the limitations of relying solely on standard sizing systems.
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Implication for Decision-Makers
Implementing a structured fitting process improves decision accuracy, reduces mismatches, and enhances user satisfaction.
Oliverland Consulting introduces a systematic fitting approach through CFFP-3.
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Key Reference
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Dyck, W. (2000). A study of the relationship between foot size and combat boot size in the Canadian Forces. Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine.
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Nesterovica, D., Vaivads, N., & Stephens, A. (2021). Relationship of footwear comfort, selected size, and lower leg overuse injuries among infantry soldiers. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 22, 952.
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Schmitt, M., Marchi, J., Jouvion, A., Trappier, T., Reyes-Rivet, L., De Brier, G., & Thefenne, L. (2020). Prevalence of chronic ankle instability in French paratroopers. Military Medicine, 185(3–4), 477–485.