Steel Toe Work and Safety Sneakers + FREE SHIPPING | Shoes (2024)

FAQs

What are the OSHA rules for steel toe shoes? ›

Safety toe protective footwear must be worn at all times regardless of the presence of a hazard; and the safety toe protective footwear must meet the following requirements - leather uppers, oil resistant and non-skid soles, and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2413-05 with an impact resistance rate ...

Durability – While they can withstand the same impacts, non-steel safety toes may be compromised by a single significant blow, or by a high volume of wear and tear. Steel toes offer greater durability and impact resistance over the long term, in exchange for being slightly heavier.

Payment for Personal Protective Equipment

With few exceptions, OSHA requires employers to pay for personal protective equipment when it is used to comply with OSHA standards.

They Protect Against Harsh Weather Conditions

Walking in regular shoes on a hot, cold, or flooded surface can cause significant physical strain for workers, and they can benefit significantly from footwear with traction and substantial soles to protect against inclement weather.

Safety shoes or boots must have a leather upper, non-skid soles, oil resistance and impact and compression resistance ratings of 75. The shoes must also have built-in toe caps to meet requirements. Protective footwear is required for employees at risk of injury from: Rolling equipment.

Safety shoes are only essential where the worker's feet are at risk of injury. For instance, if you are a manufacturing company, you will require safety shoes for the machine operators but not for your HR staff. The shoes should be worn only where there is a hazard.

Steel toe boots have a steel toe cap, while composite boots have a composite toe cap made from non-metal materials, such as Kevlar, carbon fiber, fiberglass, or plastic.

Steel Toe Caps

They are also resistant to punctures, cuts, and abrasions. However, steel toe caps also have some drawbacks. They are the heaviest and bulkiest type of toe cap, which can make them uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time. They can also cause fatigue and soreness in your feet and legs.

Composite toe boots are made from strong non-metal materials such as Kevlar, carbon fiber, plastic or fiberglass. Because they have no metal, composite toe boots are great for work sites that use metal detectors. They also offer better resistance, making them a popular choice for electricians and engineers.

It's an Anti-puncture Armour

You must wear shoes with thick, strong soles and uppers if you work in a dangerous area. Conversely, soft-soled shoes may put construction workers in danger of harm.

What happens when you don't wear safety shoes? ›

Slips and falls are another common incident, especially on wet and uneven surfaces. Not wearing protective footwear can increase the risk of tripping and lead to head injuries and broken bones.

The employer provides a safety shoe allowance for the purchase of safety toe footwear by employees, as identified by the employers' hazard assessment for foot protection, from any vendor.

In general, the standard requires that foot protection be used whenever it is necessary by reason of hazard of processes or environment which could cause foot injury. Normally, the employer will determine which, if any, of the employees are exposed to a foot injury hazard.

A toe cap capable of withstanding an impact up to 200 joules. This is the basic level for safety footwear. S1. A toe cap capable of withstanding an impact up to 200 joules as well as a fully enclosed heel and anti-static properties within the sole.

Footwear complying with BS EN ISO 20349 also offers protection as defined in BS EN 20345. This standard specifies basic and optional requirements for general purpose safety footwear, including slip resistance, mechanical and thermal risks and ergonomic behaviour.

HS Code 64034000 | Harmonized System Code Other Footwear, Incorporating A Protective Metal Toe-Cap.

Certified standards for safety footwear

There are 2 MAIN STANDARDS for safety footwear: ASTM 2413 & EN ISO 20345.

The most obvious workplace that calls for the protection of steel toes is one where workers are lifting and moving heavy items. Construction sites, warehouses and farms can all fall into this category.

Response: OSHA does not have a specific policy on the wearing of open-toe shoes in an office environment.