Safety shoes are designed to protect workers’ feet from hazardous substances. They are governed by the ASTM F2413 standard. This standard sets minimum requirements for the performance of footwear, as well as its testing and classification. These requirements include a high level of impact resistance and compression resistance, as well as protection from punctures and electric hazards net worth.
There are many different types of safety shoes on the market today. However, you should always do a risk assessment before purchasing any footwear. For example, if the hazards are serious, you might need to buy a combination foot and shin guard, which will protect your worker’s feet and legs from possible injuries. You may also need specialty shoes for forestry work, which will protect your workers from chainsaw injuries.
Safety shoes should also be regularly inspected for wear and damage. For example, if you are working in a high-voltage machine shop, you must wear non-conductive electrical safety shoes. These shoes can protect you from an electrical circuit of up to 600 volts in dry conditions, but they will lose their effectiveness if they get wet.
Other work-related safety shoes may include steel toe boots. This type of footwear has steel toe caps to prevent injury from sharp objects and electric shock. They also have thick materials and heavy-duty soles to protect feet from heavy objects.
