Best Foot Forward
In workplaces today, protective footwear is designed to protect workers from physical hazards that they could come into contact with as a result of the job. These include hazards from wet or hot slippery surfaces, stepping on sharp objects, falling objects and exposure to corrosive chemicals.

To lots of workers, footwear is not the most desirable aspect of their job, but, desirable or not, foot-related injuries remain widespread and costly, and employers attention to a safety footwear programme could offer a substantial return in improved safety and productivity. There are certainly sufficient financial incentives for industry to pay close attention to foot-related hazards. According to the National Safety Council, workers suffered 180,000 disabling injuries to the feet and toes in 1995 alone, therefore the importance of safety footwear is not to be over-emphasised.

In accordance with OSHA's foot protection standard, 1910.136(a), workers must use protective footwear where they could be working in zones with the possibility of danger to feet as a result of either falling of objects or undulating surfaces, or objects piercing the sole, and where employees' feet could be exposed to electrical hazards.



All protective footwear must comply with American National Standards Institute standard ANSI Z41-1991, and this breaks footwear down into six key types:

  • Impact and compression resistance - This uses either steel or a non-metallic toe cap (steel toe) to protect against any falling objects or crushing from heavy undulating objects.
  • Metatarsal footwear – This provides similar protection against falling objects to the area of the foot between the ankle and the toes.
  • Electrical hazard – The sole of the boot is designed to protect workers from electric shock from 600 volts or less, under dry conditions.
  • Conductive footwear – The footwear is built to prevent build-up of static electricity.
  • Puncture resistance – Here the sole resists penetration from sharp objects, such as nails or broken glass that could pierce into the soles of the boot.
  • Static-dissipative – This reduces the footwear's build-up of static electricity through conducting body charge to the ground, while protecting workers from electrical hazards.

    As a worker, protecting your feet is very important, and you should know the risks in your workplace. When selecting footwear, always consider the safety hazards in your work area.

    Philosophy and standards



    The safety footwear standard has been designed to protect employees from foot related injuries during the course of their work. Affected employees will wear foot protection that meets the ANSI standard. The selection of personal protective equipment will be based on a hazard evaluation of the area and the type of job, standard operating procedures, and materials of the task being conducted.

    The correct footwear will be chosen and personnel shall be trained in the following areas:

  • Usage
  • Limitations
  • Adjustments
  • Cleaning
  • Storage

    Foot injuries, however, are some of the most prevalent accidents encountered in the workplace. Some injuries occur as a result of the employee not wearing appropriate protection. Others happen because the wrong footwear is used for a particular job; thus, giving the employee a false sense of protection. Due to these facts, before footwear is selected one should review the type and style used for protection, the procedures being performed and the materials involved. Any selected protected footwear shall be in compliance with ANSI Z41-1991- American National Standards Institute standard. All safety footwear would have to meet minimum safety standards described by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Europe’s EN ISO 20345:201 is the current standard for safety footwear across the world. This was last updated in 2011 to make it stricter. According to the standard, all safety footwear should now have toe protection of about 200 joule impact, as this is the amount of energy the toe area can absorb prior to breaking. All safety footwear products must be certified to EN ISO 20345:2011 standard to be valid. Every employer must practice a foot protection programme that is appropriately implemented. This programme must include selection, training, maintenance, inspections, fit testing, and training.

    “all safety footwear should now have toe protection of about 200 joule impact, as this is the amount of energy the toe area can absorb prior to breaking”




    SOURCE:

    https://www.hsmemagazine.com/article/best-foot-forward