Safety boots are vital for anyone working in an industrial environment. They provide protection from falling objects, which could crush your toes, and prevent injury if you accidentally step on something sharp.
Safety shoes are required where the potential for serious injury to the foot may result from an employee's daily job duties.
A pair of safety shoes (also known as safety boots) is personal protective equipment (PPE) for foot protection at workplaces. It prevents from getting foot injuries due to slippery surface, heavy falling or rolling objects, sharp piercing edges, pinch points, rotary machinery, hot objects, loops of ropes under tension, splinters, electricity, chemicals or even bad weather etc. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires the employers to ensure that the employees use protective footwear while working in the areas where there are dangers of foot injuries.
Functions of Safety Shoes
Foot injuries can be debilitating, resulting in time away from work or difficulty performing a job. Wearing safety shoes or boots can help prevent many foot injuries in the following ways.
1. PROTECT FROM FALLING & FLYING OBJECTS
When workers carry heavy materials or work in dynamic environments where many people, machines and vehicles are operating at once, falling and flying objects are common hazards. Protective shoes like steel toe boots can effectively prevent crushing injuries to the feet.
2. PROTECT FROM PUNCTURES
When workers could step on sharp objects or be struck by sharp objects from above, shoes with heavy-duty soles and thick materials surrounding the foot offer the best protection. At construction worksites, for example, many sharp objects could be in someone’s path. A soft-soled shoe might not provide enough protection.
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