Foot Protection
The employer must ensure that each affected employee wears protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to:
- Falling or rolling objects
- Objects piercing the sole
- Where feet are exposed to electrical hazards
Criteria
Protective footwear purchased after July 5, 1994 must comply with ANSI Z41-1991, ANSI Z41-1999, or ASTM F-2413-2005, "Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective Footwear" (before July 5, 1994 - ANSI Z41.1-1967) or must be demonstrated by the employer to be equally effective. Footwear that meets established safety standards will have an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) label inside each shoe.
Steel-Reinforced Safety Shoes
These shoes are designed to protect feet from common machinery hazards such as falling or rolling objects, cuts, and punctures. The entire toe box and insole are reinforced with steel, and the instep is protected by steel, aluminum, or plastic. Safety shoes are also designed to insulate against temperature extremes and may be equipped with special soles to guard against slips, chemicals, and/or electrical hazards.
Safety Boots
Safety boots provide additional protection in environments where splash or spark hazards (chemicals, molten materials) are present.
- When working with corrosives, caustics, cutting oils, and petroleum products, neoprene or nitrile boots are often required to prevent penetration.
- Foundry or "Gaiter" style boots feature quick-release fasteners or elasticized insets to allow speedy removal should any hazardous substances get into the boot itself.
- For electrical work, special electrical hazard boots are available. These are designed without conductive materials except for the steel toe, which is properly insulated.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-10. According to OSHA's PPE standard, the employer must make sure that affected employees use protective footwear when working in areas containing which of the following hazards?
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