Foot injuries are among the most common injury types in workers' compensation claims. No matter how careful you are, accidents happen at work, resulting in injuries. Some work environments are riskier than others. Hence, preventive measures are critical in avoiding such injuries and promoting a safer working environment.
This guide will explore the most common workplace foot injuries and the steps that can be taken to prevent them.
Common Workplace Foot Injuries & Associated Costs
Without adequate support, your foot can suffer from abnormal strain. Inadequate support can increase tension in the muscles and tendons of your foot. While most foot injuries develop slowly and gradually, their long-term effects can be devastating, if not debilitating.
These are common workplace foot injuries and how to treat them.
Punctures and Cuts
Puncture wounds and cuts from sharp or falling objects are among the leading causes of workplace foot injuries. Without proper safety shoes, workers could suffer from cuts when they accidentally step on nails and metal shards or puncture their feet when they bump into heavy equipment or sharp materials.
Broken Toes or Feet
Heavy objects or equipment could fall and break workers' toes or feet. Depending on the weight of the object, this injury could be serious enough to require surgery or long-term rehabilitation. Wearing safety shoes and observing additional safety measures can prevent this injury.
Electrical Shocks
Electricity is a common work hazard; wearing electrical-rated safety shoes can easily prevent them. Some electrical sparks can cause minor burns, but others can be fatal. Therefore, it is vital that workers wear electrical rated safety shoes, such as those made with rubber or leather. They prevent risk when exposed to static electric sparks.
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns are another leading example of workplace foot injuries that can be addressed with proper footwear. Chemical spills and exposure to corrosive substances pose serious health and safety risks to workers. Therefore, they must wear chemical-resistant safety shoes to prevent skin irritation and major chemical burns.
Bunions and Plantar Fasciitis
These two types of foot injuries are common and can result from standing on your feet for long periods. Many industrial work environments require workers to stand on their feet throughout their shift, a risk that increases with inappropriate footwear. Proper safety shoes are vital to provide adequate support when standing and prevent chronic foot pain.
What Are Industrial Safety Shoes?
Safety or industrial shoes are commonly worn in hazardous work environments, such as industrial and construction sites. The workers who wear them typically handle heavy equipment, tools, and machinery, which can pose risk of injury to the foot if they fall.
Safety shoes are specifically designed to protect employees facing hazardous situations. Hazardous work environments can vary widely across industries, so the safety shoes that employees wear on the site should comply with the specific standards suited to the unique risks in that work environment.
For example, certain safety shoes protect against electrical hazards, others are designed to prevent slips, and some protect against impact or compression. So, how do industrial safety shoes protect employees who wear them?
The following are key features that enable safety shoes to provide the utmost protection for employees:
- Protective toe cap—The reinforced toe caps use steel or aluminum to prevent injuries from heavy machinery or falling objects.
- Slip resistance – Slips are another common cause of injuries at work. Oil spills and grease residue are slip hazards, so choose safety footwear with slip-resistant soles for better traction and stability.
- Electrical hazard protection—Protect your feet from electrical hazards and burns with safety shoes made with materials that are safe against various electrical hazards.
- Puncture resistance – Exposure to sharp objects that can puncture through the shoes is another common cause of foot injuries in the workplace. You can prevent this by wearing puncture-resistant shoes that protect your feet from glass, nails, and metal shards.
In addition to these protective features, safety shoes should be ergonomically designed. They should have cushioned insoles and moisture-wicking capabilities. An ergonomic safety shoe can prevent injuries during extended standing at work or walking on rough surfaces.
How to Prevent Common Workplace Foot Injuries
Wearing industry-rated safety shoes is a good first step in preventing common foot injuries at work. However, additional measures must be taken to ensure that you can prevent injuries before they occur.
1. Place safety signs where necessary.
Installing adequate warning signs is vital in a hazardous work environment. For example, warn employees about whether a hard hat or safety shoes are required in a specific work area. Simple reminders like this can be an effective measure to prevent potential hazards and injuries.
2. Effective housekeeping can save lives.
Housekeeping is crucial in hazardous work environments to avoid workplace accidents and injuries. There should be designated personnel to clean up loose nails and littered walkways that can risk accidental punctures or slips. Also, training employees about how to safely stow tools and heavy equipment after each use is crucial to avoid foot and other injuries at work.
3. Installing safety mirrors.
Installing safety mirrors is another preventive measure against workplace injuries. These mirrors help increase visibility within the specific working area and its immediate surroundings so that workers can be aware of their environment at all times.
4. Installing anti-slip flooring or matting.
Slips and falls can lead to serious foot injuries at work. You can easily prevent this by installing anti-slip flooring or matting. However, there are certain risks with non-slip mats, as they can cause the shoes to grab onto the flooring, causing injuries as the feet slide forward inside the shoes. Safety shoes with a non-slip resilient sole can prevent this injury.
Final Thoughts on Preventing Workplace Foot Injuries
When working in hazardous environments, your feet are vulnerable to everything from standing for several hours a day to the risk of heavy objects falling on your toes. Wearing industry-standard safety shoes is your first line of defense against injuries. Take time to choose the proper safety shoes commensurate with the risks you face at work to ensure they are the right material and style to protect your feet from injuries.
