A Guide to Foot Protection

Protective footwear is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for all employees who could be exposed to falling objects, hazardous materials, or matter that could pierce the sole. OSHA also has specific standards that require the footwear to meet certain impact and compression tests. In order for your workplace to be as safe as possible you should make sure that you follow OSHA guidelines and purchase only certified footwear.

According to OSHA 1910.136(a), "Each affected employee shall wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards." Appendix B to subpart I identifies the following occupations for which foot protection should be routinely considered: shipping and receiving clerks, stock clerks, carpenters, electricians, machinists, mechanics and repairers, plumbers, assemblers, drywall installers and lathers, packers, wrappers, craters, punch and stamping press operators, sawyers, welders, laborers, freight handlers, gardeners and grounds keepers, timber cutting and logging workers, stock handlers and warehouse laborers.

If you work with chemicals or other hazardous materials you are likely aware of the potential dangers, and putting on protective footwear is probably second nature by now. However there are plenty of other occupations where this footwear should be worn to prevent accidents, injuries or potential losses. Although each employee must choose whether or not to wear the footwear, the employer has a duty to ensure that all safety guidelines are followed and that they provide a safe workplace.

What Protective Footwear Do You Need?

There are many different types of footwear available that can be worn as regular shoes (over-the-sock) or as shoe covers (over-the-shoe). Whether you need standard size boots or over the knee protection, there are a number of different styles to choose from that offer varying levels of protection. Only the employee and employer know the hazards they face and can best decide what footwear to use. If you are exposed to impact hazards or falling objects then you should choose steel-toed shoes; while risk of hazardous liquid exposure would require chemical resistant footwear.

Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a shoe:

• Steel toes to protect against falling objects, which cause 60 percent of all foot injuries. Where there are electrical hazards, a fiberglass toe should replace the typical steel toe.
• Good traction to protect against slips and falls, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics said were responsible for about 329,000 lost workdays in 1994. Depending on the environment, consider cleats, or a shoe with an abrasive, gritted grooved, spiked or studded sole.
• Proper chemical protection. Boots and shoes made of rubber, PVC or neoprene (depending on the chemical) are needed.
• Employee comfort. If a shoe is unwieldy or heavy, chances are it will not be worn. Give workers a choice of footwear colors and styles but only after you are satisfied that all of those to be considered provide adequate protection.