…….Safety is not something you have, it’s something you do
Safety Talk
Personal Protective Equipment – Foot Protection
Footwear worn in the workplace can range from comfort and style to helping protect our feet from industrial hazards such as falling objects, heat and cold, wet and slippery surfaces, or even exposure to corrosive chemicals. In addition to protecting our feet they may help reduce the likelihood of tripping, slipping and falling
There are two major categories of work-related foot injuries:
- Foot injuries from: punctures, crushing, sprains, and lacerations. They account for 10 percent of all reported disabling injuries
- Injuries resulting from slips, trips, and falls. They account for 15 percent of all reported disabling injuries. Slips and falls do not always result in a foot injury but lack of attention to foot safety plays an important role in their occurrence.
Tips to choose the right footwear for the job
- Safety shoes and boots should match the hazardous conditions of the job
- Slip resistant soles should be worn if working around water or other slippery surfaces – Areas where water is often used in a cleaning process
- “Metal-toed” shoes or boots should be worn when there is a risk of falling objects striking the top of the foot. These steel-toed shoes provide extra protection over the top of the foot and can make a difference in preventing an accident. Impact protection should be worn when workers carry or handle materials such as heavy packages, objects, parts or tools and other activities where objects may fall onto the foot (Non-production employees when on the production floor – If applicable stress the policy that any and all persons who go onto the production floor to perform some sort of activity must comply with the Company Safety Shoe Policy)
- Puncture resistant shoes or boots should be required when a worker could step on sharp objects such as nails, wires, tacks, screws, large staples, scrap metal, or other objects that can penetrate less resistant material (Shipping areas; Maintenance)
- Special insulated or nonconductive shoes should be worn around electrical hazards (Maintenance)
- All working footwear, for both men and women, whether it is safety wear or not, should provide comfort without compromising protective value.
- Consider the work hazards that exist in your workplace and find the proper footwear for your type of work.
