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Medical staff at Auckland Hospital have been warned not to wear Crocs after the plastic shoes were implicated in a number of accidents.
Auckland District Health Board occupational health and safety manager Denise Johns said the clog-like footwear would not meet "anyone's safety standards" because they did not have enough grip, were made of a soft material that could be punctured, and had holes on the top exposing skin.
"For clinical staff , body fluid accidents are regular and needlestick injuries occur, so shoes with holes are not appropriate."
Warning notices have been put up after "Croc-like shoes" were involved in several slips, trips and falls, two of which resulted in fractures.
The shoes have not been banned, but managers and charge nurses are being encouraged to advise staff against wearing them.
Doctors and nurses can't get enough of the brightly coloured shoes, which have drawn condemnation from dedicated followers of fashion since their introduction in 2005.
"I do a 10-hour day in theatre standing on my feet, and don't get a chance to sit down," said Auckland Hospital cardiac theatre nurse Sian Robbins, whose purple, covered-in Crocs meet regulations.
"These are flat, soft, and we can get them on and off without using our hands - plus, for theatre staff, we can wash them down easily at the end."
But a plastic prescription is on the way for Croc-loving docs - manufacturers have designed a range especially for hospitals.
"We probably get inquiries almost daily from doctors and nurses wanting Crocs, and these should be perfect for them," said Stephanie Redhill, manager of the Crocs Concepts store in Auckland's Newmarket.
With higher backs, no holes on the top, and more grip, the new shoes will hopefully meet safety regulations.