Manufacturing Risk Advisor: The Importance of Safety Footwear

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a vital component of your employees’ health and safety. While commonly associated with protecting a person’s head, chest and hands, the importance of PPE for your employees’ feet cannot be overlooked.

The following are just a few of the hazards that could lead to serious foot injuries at a work site:

• Falling heavy objects
• Sharp items
• Hot or cold materials
• Electric currents
• Hazardous liquids
• Slippery walking surfaces

Fortunately, proper safety footwear can mitigate these risks. Consider the following in your employees’ safety footwear:

• Make sure footwear is certified and rated by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) for the specific hazards and working conditions present. CSA-certified footwear includes a symbol to represent the protection provided. You can review the symbols here.
• Consider the types of foot protection that the job requires. This may include metatarsal guards, toe guards, electric conductivity, water-resistance and slip-resistance. Furthermore, consider the material, as it can affect the shoe’s temperature control, flexibility and durability.
• Don’t overlook comfort. Calluses, ingrown toenails and tired feet are common forms of foot injury caused by uncomfortable footwear that can cause discomfort, pain and fatigue.
• Additionally, safety footwear should be inspected before each use for signs of wear and tear. If a shoe is cracked or shows other signs of damage, it should be replaced immediately.

Further Improving Foot Safety

In addition to requiring proper safety footwear, you can help improve foot safety in the workplace by doing the following:

• Separate mobile equipment from pedestrian traffic.
• Install safety mirrors and warning signs.
• Provide proper guarding of hazardous machines.
• Regularly remove loose nails or other sharp objects from the floor.
• Use color-contrast and angular lighting in areas such as stairs, ramps and passageways to increase visibility.