Did you know that the total cost of workplace injuries in the US amounted to $167 billion in 2022? This figure correlates money lost due to a lack of productivity from employee absences and wage payments. Employers must prioritize safety standards to protect employees and prevent foot injuries. Safety shoe technologies have evolved throughout the years, ensuring the protection of workers in hazardous environments.
This guide explores the role of steel-toe boots in protecting workers and how to choose them to meet top safety standards. Let’s discuss the features of steel-toe boots and when you need to wear them versus other types of safety shoes.
Overview of Steel-Toe Boots
When discussing safety shoes, most people think of the traditional steel-toe work boots. This is a good choice since these shoes offer heavy-duty protection against all types of work hazards.
Steel-toe boots are one of many styles of safety shoes for workers in hazardous work environments. As the name implies, they have a protective reinforcement on the toe against falling objects or heavy equipment. They are essential protective equipment for industrial workers in factories, construction sites, warehouses, and similar environments.
Steel-toe boots offer various protection levels, and you should check the safety rating to meet the level of risks that workers face. Some work boots have additional features that enhance their performance, such as water resistance, antistatic properties, and non-slip soles.
Why Use Steel-Toe Boots?
Since there are various styles of work boots, it’s crucial to distinguish when steel-toe boots are what you need over other types of safety shoes. Matching the safety shoe features with the risk means your feet are protected from the hazards at work.
The following work conditions require the use of steel-toe boots:
- Work sites with falling objects
- Work sites with heavy equipment
- Work sites with extreme weather conditions
- Work sites with puncture hazards
The only exception in this case is electrical hazards. You should choose a specific type of safety shoe to avoid electrical risks.
Safety Standards for Steel-Toe Boots
Steel-toe boots are the standard of industrial safety shoes. As mentioned, they have an internal toe box constructed with heavy-duty steel. This material protects your feet, especially the toes, from harm.
All steel-toe boots look the same on the outside. But they differ based on what’s inside because what's inside determines the capacity of the shoe to protect against impact, compression, and puncture.
Without steel-toe boots, heavy objects falling on your feet can be debilitating. The OHSA requires that all safety footwear meet ASTM-rated protection to ensure it meets the industry standards for safety.
The OHSA 1910.136 circular provides guidelines for safety footwear, especially steel-toe boots. It specifically highlights the importance of protecting workers’ feet against falling objects, the most common cause of workplace injury.
However, the American Society for Testing and Materials defines the standards that all steel-toe and work safety boots must meet before they are proven effective in hazardous work environments. The guidelines for steel-toe boots are covered under ASTM F2413-05.
This specification covers the minimum guidelines for steel-toe boots and performance criteria. What does it mean if your steel-toe boots meet the ASTM F2413-05 standard? This safety standard covers the following:
- Impact resistance for the toes
- Compression resistance for the toes
- Metatarsal protection for injury prevention against the metatarsal bones
- Conductive properties for static protection and chemical or other similar risks
- Puncture resistance
- Chainsaw cut resistance
According to ASTM, the standard protection for steel-toe boots can support an impact of up to 75 lbs. In layman’s terms, the steel toes can tolerate an impact of up to 2,500 lbs. To give you an idea, a compact car weighs about 2,700 lbs. Now, wearing a steel-toe boot and getting run over by a compact car can protect your feet from injury. Consider the weight of the objects you deal with at work, and you can expect that the shoes can withstand the impact without hurting your feet.
The guidelines mentioned here are based on US safety work shoe standards. The Australian and New Zealand safety standards differ. It is essential to review the guidelines where your job site operates to ensure you can align your shoe selection with the accompanying hazards.
For example, AS/NZ 2210.3 offers the minimum standard for toe protection. For a steel toe boot to be designated this safety rating, it must pass the compression and impact tests for up to 200 joules of force.
Meanwhile, the European standard for steel-toe boots is ISO 20345:2011, which means your steel-toe boots can withstand up to 200 joules of impact. The footwear rating also offers improved resistance to slipping.
Guide in Choosing the Right Safety Shoes
Steel-toe boots are durable and offer the highest protection for your feet from heavy or falling objects. They are also widely available and accessible, and since many brands manufacture them, they are inexpensive.
The most important guideline for choosing the right safety shoes requires various considerations.
Tip 1: Assess the Work Environment
The best way to determine if steel-toe boots offer adequate safety and protection for your feet and toes is to know the hazards in your work environment. Matching industry-specific hazards with this safety shoes feature ensures you have the proper protection to combat unique challenges.
For example, construction workers combat heavy machinery and tools, while agricultural workers deal with chemicals and other hazardous substances. These work environments require different protection, and various safety shoes are designed for them.
Tip 2: Fit and Comfort
While toe protection is crucial, you should also check the fit and comfort of your shoes. Ill-fitting shoes can also pose a risk of injuries. You should choose a properly fitting shoe, especially when your job requires standing on your feet for several hours daily.
Tip 3: Consider Other Alternatives
If steel-toe boots don’t work, consider other materials and shoe alternatives. Toe-caps are not just made of steel but can also be made with composite and alloy. Research these alternatives to get the best protection from injuries.
