1/21/2016

SafetyFootwear:OSHAnswers

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SafetyFootwear
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WhatshouldIknowaboutsafetyfootwear?
Ifyouareatriskforfootinjuryatyourworkplace,youshouldweartheappropriate
protectivefootwear.
Iffootprotectionisrequired,setupacompletefootsafetyprotectionprogram
includingselection,fittesting,training,maintenanceandinspection.
Safetyfootwearisdesignedtoprotectfeetagainstawidevarietyofinjuries.
Impact,compression,andpuncturearethemostcommontypesoffootinjury.
Choosefootwearaccordingtothehazard.RefertoCSAStandardZ19514
"ProtectiveFootwear".
SelectCSAcertifiedfootwear.Ensurethatithastheproperratingforthe
hazardandthepropersolefortheworkingconditions.
Usemetatarsalprotection(topofthefootbetweenthetoesandankle)where
thereisapotentialforinjury.
TheOSHAnswerssectiononFootComfortandSafetyatWork(foot_com.html)has
moreinformationonfootcareandselectionofprotectivefootwear.

Howisfootwearselected?
Footwearmustbechosenbasedonthehazardsthatarepresent.Assessthe
workplaceandworkactivitiesfor:
Materialshandledorusedbytheworker.
Riskofobjectsfallingontoorstrikingthefeet.
Anymaterialorequipmentthatmightrolloverthefeet.
Anysharporpointedobjectsthatmightcutthetopofthefeet.
Objectsthatmaypenetratethebottomorsideofthefoot.
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Possibleexposuretocorrosiveorirritatingsubstances.
Possibleexplosiveatmospheresincludingtheriskofstaticelectricaldischarges
.
Riskofdamagetosensitiveelectroniccomponentsorequipmentduetothe
dischargeofstaticelectricity.
Riskofcomingintocontactwithenergizedconductorsoflowtomoderate
voltage(e.g.,220voltsorless).
Typeofwalkingsurfaceandenvironmentalconditionsworkersmaybeexposed
to(e.g.,loosegroundcover,smoothsurfaces,temperature,wet/oily,chemicals,
etc.).
Also,evaluatetherisk:
toanklesfromunevenwalkingsurfacesorroughterrain
offootinjuryduetoexposuretoextremehotorcold
ofslipsandfallsonslipperywalkingsurfaces
ofexposuretowaterorotherliquidsthatmaypenetratethefootwearcausing
damagetothefootandthefootwear
ofexposuretorotatingorabrasivemachinery(e.g.,chainsawsorgrinders)

WhatshouldIknowaboutthefitandcareof
safetyfootwear?
Fit:
Tryonnewbootsaroundmidday.Feetnormallyswellduringtheday.
Walkinnewfootweartoensureitiscomfortable.
Bootsshouldhaveampletoeroom(toesshouldbeabout12.5mmfromthe
front).Donotexpectfootweartostretchwithwear.
Makeallowancesforextrasocksorspecialarchsupportswhenbuyingboots.
Tryonyournewbootswiththesupportsorsocksyouusuallywearatwork.
Checkwiththemanufacturerifaddinginsertsaffectsyourlevelofprotection.
Bootsshouldfitsnuglyaroundtheheelandanklewhenlaced.
Laceupbootsfully.Highcutbootsprovidesupportagainstankleinjury.

Care:
Useaprotectivecoatingtomakefootwearwaterresistant.
Inspectfootwearregularlyfordamage(e.g.,cracksinsoles,breaksinleather,
orexposedtoecaps).
Repairorreplacewornordefectivefootwear.
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Electricshockresistanceoffootwearisgreatlyreducedbywetconditionsand
withwear.
Footwearexposedtosolepenetrationorimpactmaynothavevisiblesignsof
damage.Replacingfootwearafteraneventisadvisable.

Whatsymbolswillbeonthefootwear?
Thefollowingsymbols,ormarkings,willhelpyoudeterminewhichfootwearis
appropriateforthejob.
SelectionofSafetyFootwear
Marking Criteria
IntendedApplication
Greentriangleindicatessole Forheavyindustrialworkenvironments,
punctureprotectionwitha especiallythatofconstructionwheresharp
Grade1protectivetoecap. objects(suchasnails)arepresent.
Yellowtriangleindicatessole Forlightindustrialworkenvironmentsrequiring
punctureprotectionwitha punctureprotectionaswellastoeprotection.
Grade2protectivetoecap.
Bluerectangleindicatesa Forindustrialworkenvironmentsnotrequiring
Grade1protectivetoecap punctureprotection.
withnopunctureresistant
sole.
Greyrectangleindicatesa Forindustrialandnonindustrialwork
Grade2protectivetoecap environmentsnotrequiringpuncture
withnopunctureresistant protection.
sole.
Whiterectanglewithorange Forindustrialworkenvironmentswhere
Greekletteromegaindicates accidentalcontactwithliveelectoral
electricshockprotective
conductorscanoccur.Warning:Electrical
footwear.
shockresistancedeteriorateswithwearandin
awetenvironment.

Yellowrectanglewithblack Forindustrialworkenvironmentswherea
SDlettersindicatesstatic staticdischargecancreateahazardfor
dissipativefootwear.
workersorequipment.Warning:This
footwearshouldnotbeusedwherecontact
withliveelectricalconductorscanoccur.
Yellowrectangleindicates Forindustrialworkenvironmentswherea
solepunctureprotectionwith staticdischargecancreateahazardfor
aGrade2protectivetoecap. workersorequipment.Warning:This
(superstaticdissipative
footwearshouldnotbeusedwherecontact
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footwear)
RedrectanglewithwhiteC
letterindicateselectrically
conductivefootwear.

withliveelectricalconductorscanoccur.
Forindustrialworkenvironmentswherelow
powerelectricalchangescancreateahazard
forworkersorequipment.Warning:This
footwearshouldnotbeusedwherecontact
withliveelectricalconductorscanoccur.

DarkgreyrectanglewithM Forindustrialworkenvironmentswhereheavy
letterindicatesmetatarsal
objectscanhurtthemetatarsalregionofthe
protection.Note:Toe
foot.
protectionisrequiredforall
metatarsalprotective
footwear.
Whitelabelwithgreenfir
treesymbolfootwear
providesprotectionwhen
usingchainsaws.

Forforestryworkersandotherswhoworkwith
oraroundhandheldchainsawsandother
cuttingtools.

NOTE:Footwearwillalsobemarkedtoindicatethelevelofslipresistance.These
markingsmaybeonthepackaging,thefootwear,oronaproductsheet.

DocumentlastupdatedonJanuary8,2016

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