The Key to Safety Shoes and Boots
The key to safety shoes and boots is asking two questions: What standards are recognized in your part of the world, and what is available to your workers? Not all safety shoes meet the job requirements.
CSA green triangle boots and shoes are okay, but depending on the chemical standards, they may need certain other ratings to fully protect the workers' feet.
The second consideration is that metal workers have a second rating put on their feet for safety, with an upper shield or faceplate put on the laces. Always lace the boots military style so they can be taken off or cut off quickly if the foot is crushed, which is crucial for first aid requirements.
Last but not least, they protect a valuable feature of your body, so it's like asking, "Do I buy cheap or expensive?" The key is buying to protect, which is a better answer.
This link shows the minimum standards we need in Canada, but the key is what the standard is in your government legislation for your workers:
OSH Answers: Safety Footwear
Proper foot safety is important to all of us. Your feet take an enormous amount of punishment in everyday living, not to mention working in a cluttered garage or workshop. It is only common sense to wear footwear fitting for the job. You wouldn't wear sandals outside in the winter, nor would you in a shop.
There are all kinds of styles for the fashion-conscious. There are the ones that look like the typical high-cut safety boots to ones looking like cowboy boots. Then there are the ones that are low-cut standard look-alike shoes. There are even ones that you can use as dress shoes. The important thing is to wear them.
In designing strategies to protect against foot injury, one has to remember the fundamental principle of occupational health and safety: that occupational hazards should be eliminated at the source. The role of personal protective equipment is to minimize exposure to specific occupational hazards, not to eliminate them. Protective footwear does not guarantee total protection.
The best defense against injuries is prevention. A clean workplace is number one on the scale:
- Clear the work floor of any sharp, hot objects that can penetrate your safety footwear.
- Clear any walking paths of any obstacles that can scrape the side of your feet or ankles.
- Avoidance of obstacles can cause twisting or spraining of feet and ankles.
- Safely secure any objects above the floor from falling on your feet.
- Make sure the floor and paths have proper resistance for walking. A newly painted floor can be like layering ice on the floor. Putting sand or other material in with the paint will ensure some resistance to slippage.
All jurisdictions require that workers wear adequate protection against workplace hazards. All working footwear, for both men and women, whether it is safety wear or not, should provide comfort without compromising protective value.
Basic Things to Look for in Buying Safety Footwear
- A steel toe cap should cover the whole length of the toes from tips to beyond the natural bend of the foot. A soft pad covering the edge of the toecap increases comfort. If the toecap cuts into the foot, either the size or style of the footwear is incorrect.
- Soles come in a variety of thicknesses and materials. They need to be chosen according to the hazards and type(s) of flooring in the workplace.
- Uppers of protective footwear come in a variety of materials. Selection should take into account the hazards and individual characteristics of the worker's foot.
- A steel midsole, which protects the foot against penetration by sharp objects, should be flexible enough to allow the foot to bend.
- No one type of non-slip footwear can prevent the wearer from slipping on every surface type.
- Make sure they are a good fit.
There are conditions such as calluses, ingrown toenails, or simply tired feet that are common among workers. Although these may not be considered occupational injuries in the strictest sense, they can have serious consequences for health and safety at the workplace. They cause discomfort, pain, and fatigue. Fatigue sets up the worker for further injuries affecting the muscles and joints. Also, a worker who is tired and suffering pain is less alert and more likely to act unsafely. An accident of any kind may result. A proper fitting boot will also help in good posture and skeletal alignment.
Fit and Care of Safety Footwear
Check the Fit:
- Walk in the new footwear to ensure it is comfortable.
- Boots should have ample toe room (toes should be about 12.5 mm from the front).
- Make allowances for extra socks or special arch supports when buying boots.
- Boots should fit snugly around the heel and ankle when laced.
- Lace up boots fully. High-cut boots provide support against ankle injury. Loose laces can be a hazard in themselves, causing tripping over your own feet or catching on objects in the area.
Footwear Care:
- Use a protective coating to make footwear water-resistant. Inspect and reapply protective coating when necessary. Wet boots often curl near the toe when dried, causing discomfort and abnormal wear.
- Inspect footwear regularly for damage. The soles often crack with age, leaving openings for potential hazards.
- Repair or replace worn or defective footwear.
- Electric shock resistance of footwear is greatly reduced by wet conditions and with wear. Dig out any objects stuck in the sole. They can make the boot a path for electricity and a slippery factor on the floor.
Boot Badges on the Boots
Boot badges will signify the level of safety the boot will have.
Selection of Safety Footwear
Marking Criteria Use
- Green triangle footwear has sole puncture protection with a Grade 1 protective toe (withstand impact up to 125 joules).
- Any industrial or heavy work environment, including construction, where sharp objects are present (such as nails).
- Yellow triangle footwear has sole puncture protection and Grade 2 protective toe (withstand impact up to 90 joules).
- Light industrial work environments that need both puncture and toe protection.
- White rectangle with orange Greek letter "omega" footwear has soles that provide electric shock resistance.
- Any industrial environment where accidental contact with live electrical conductors can occur. (REMEMBER: Electric shock resistance is greatly reduced by wet conditions and with wear)
- Yellow rectangle with green letters "SD" and grounding symbol footwear has soles that are static dissipative.
- Any industrial environment where a static discharge can be a hazard for workers or equipment.
- Red rectangle with black letter "C" and grounding symbol footwear has soles that are electrically conductive.
- For any industrial environment where low-power electrical charges can be a hazard for workers or equipment.
- White label with green fir tree symbol footwear provides protection when using chainsaws.
- For forestry workers and others who work with or around hand-held chainsaws and other cutting tools.
Note 1: The ® symbol indicates the preferred position for the identifying logo or mark of the certifying agency.
Note 2: Labels are on the tongue of the right shoe at ankle height. They may also appear at ankle height on the shoe itself (for electrical protection footwear).
Regards