Foot Protection
Foot Protection
Foot protection is necessary for a wide variety of hazards and therefore there are a wide variety of shoes and accessories. Some of the hazards present are falling objects, moving machinery, sharp objects, hot materials, chemicals, or slippery surfaces.
The most basic form of foot protection are closed-toed shoes and long pants. These are the basic requirements for laboratories and other hazardous work environments.
IMPORTANT: Sandals, open-toed shoes, open-backed shoes, or Crocs do not protect feet from any workplace hazards and are unacceptable in labs, machine shops, and other hazardous areas.
| Type of Protection | Hazards It Protects Against | When to Utilize | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel Toe Boots |
Falling objects, kicking, crushing hazards, etc. |
Moving and carrying large objects and when around large and heavy machinery. |
|
| Steel Plated Boots |
Punctures |
Construction Sites, building projects, and broken materials such as glass, metals, or wood. |
|
| Slip-Resistant Shoes |
Water, Oil and other slip hazards |
Kitchens, snow removal, mopping, spills, and wet floors. |
|
| Insulated Shoes |
Cold Temperatures |
Winter work outside or in cold indoor environments (freezers, walk-in fridges, etc.) |
|
| Chemical Resistant |
Exposures to large amounts of chemicals |
Moving drums, carrying chemicals, chemical spill clean-up, etc. |
|
| Electrical Rated |
Electrical hazards (Shock, arc flash, etc.) |
Electrical work |
|
