Foot Protection

Common Foot Injuries in Construction:

• Crushing Injuries: Heavy equipment, falling materials, and impacts can cause severe fractures and crush injuries to toes and feet.

• Puncture Wounds: Nails, screws, sharp debris, and tools can easily penetrate the sole of inadequate footwear, leading to painful and potentially infected wounds.

• Impact Injuries: Dropped tools, materials, or equipment can cause bruising, fractures, and other impact-related injuries.

• Slip and Fall Injuries: Uneven surfaces, wet conditions, and debris can lead to slips, trips, and falls, resulting in sprains, strains, and fractures.

• Electrical Hazards: Contact with electrical wires or equipment can result in electrical shocks and burns.

• Chemical Burns: Spills or contact with chemicals can cause severe burns to the skin.

Types of Footwear and Their Applications:

Steel-Toed Boots:

• • These boots feature a reinforced steel toe cap that protects against crushing and impact injuries.

  • Essential for general construction work, heavy equipment operation, and material handling.

Puncture-Resistant Soles:

• • These boots have a reinforced insole that prevents sharp objects from penetrating the sole.

  • Essential for work involving nails, screws, and other sharp debris.

Metatarsal Guards:

• • These boots include an external or internal guard that protects the metatarsal bones (instep - top of the foot) from impact injuries.

  • Recommended for work involving heavy materials or potential for falling objects.

Electrical Hazard (EH) Rated Boots:

• • These boots provide insulation against electrical shocks.

  • Necessary for electricians and workers who may come into contact with electrical hazards.

Slip-Resistant Soles:

• • These boots feature soles with enhanced traction to prevent slips and falls.

  • Important for work in wet or slippery conditions.

Waterproof Boots:

• • These boots are designed to keep the feet dry in wet environments.

  • Important for outdoor work, or work where water is present.

Unacceptable Footwear in Construction:

Sneakers/Athletic Shoes:

• • Provide minimal protection against impacts, punctures, or crushing injuries.

  • Offer no protection against electrical hazards.

Sandals/Flip-Flops:

• • Offer no protection whatsoever and expose the entire foot to hazards.

  • Completely unacceptable on any construction site.

Dress Shoes:

• • Lack the necessary protection against impacts, punctures, and slips.

  • Not designed for the rigors of construction work.

Cloth Shoes:

• • Cloth shoes offer very little to no protection against spilled chemicals, impacts, or punctures.

Worn out boots:

• • Boots with worn soles, or holes in the leather, do not offer adequate protection.

OSHA and Workplace Safety:

• Foot Protection:

  • OSHA standards require employers to ensure that employees wear protective footwear when there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, punctures, slips & falls, electrical hazards, or chemical exposures.  

  • Therefore, on a construction site, especially during an inspection, as the threats are unknown, workers are required to wear safety rated boots.  

• Shoeless Policy:

  • OSHA does not allow employees to be shoeless in a work area where foot hazards are or may be present. This is because bare feet offer no protection against these hazards.  

  • Removing work boots on a job site creates a safety hazard.

  • Requiring employees to remove their boots to enter a portion of a job site where work is being conducted would be in direct violation of OSHA regulations.

Shoe Protectors as a Solution:

• Shoe protectors provide a practical compromise. They allow workers to maintain the required foot protection while also preventing the transfer of dirt and debris.  

• It is important that the shoe protectors do not inhibit the safety features of the work boots.

• Therefore, shoe protectors allow workers to remain OSHA compliant, while also providing a clean method of entering and exiting areas that must remain clean.

Benefits of Shoe Protectors:

• Convenience:

  • They allow for quick transitions between work and indoor environments, saving time and effort.  

  • They eliminate the need to repeatedly lace and unlace work boots.

• Cleanliness:

  • They prevent dirt, mud, dust, and other debris from being tracked into homes or clean work areas.  

  • They protect flooring from scratches and scuffs that heavy work boots can cause.  

• Protection:

  • Some shoe protectors offer additional protection against spills or chemicals.