Safety Footwear
Your boots protect you from crushed toes, nails through the sole, electrical hazards, burns and slips. Pick boots rated for your hazards, and replace them before they wear out.
- Construction
- General Industry
Reading the label (ASTM F2413)
| Marking | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I/75 C/75 | Impact and compression resistant toe cap (the highest rating) |
| Mt | Metatarsal protection for the top of the foot |
| EH | Electrical hazard: secondary protection from open circuits when dry |
| PR | Puncture resistant sole |
| SD / CD | Static dissipative / conductive (for special environments) |
The label usually has three lines: the standard and year (for example, ASTM F2413-18), then the gender and toe ratings (M or F, I/75, C/75, Mt), then any other ratings (EH, PR, SD). If a boot isn’t labeled, assume it isn’t safety footwear.
EH-rated boots are tested to withstand 18,000 volts for one minute under dry conditions. They’re a backup, not a substitute for staying clear of live parts. Wet, worn or damaged soles lose that protection.
Steel, composite and alloy toes can all meet the standard. Composite toes don’t conduct cold or electricity and are lighter.
Choosing boots
- Safety toe if anything heavy can fall, roll or be dropped on your feet.
- Puncture-resistant soles on demolition and framing sites (nails and screws).
- Metatarsal guards for jackhammering, heavy material handling and foundry work.
- Slip-resistant, oil-resistant soles with good tread.
- Ankle support (6-inch or taller boots) for uneven ground.
- Waterproof and insulated boots for wet or cold work. Rubber boots for wet concrete.
Getting a good fit
- Try boots on late in the day, when your feet are largest, with the socks you’ll wear at work.
- Your toes shouldn’t touch the toe cap, and your heel shouldn’t lift much when you walk.
- Women’s safety boots are built on a different shape, not just a smaller men’s boot. See PPE That Fits.
- Moisture-wicking socks (wool or synthetic) help prevent blisters and fungus. Change wet socks.
- Good insoles reduce fatigue on concrete, but don’t change the fit so the toe cap presses on your toes.
Who pays
Employers must pay for required PPE, but OSHA allows an exception for ordinary safety-toe boots that you’re allowed to wear off the job. Specialty footwear, like metatarsal guards, rubber boots with safety toes, and EH boots for specific tasks, is usually the employer’s cost. Some union contracts and employers provide a yearly boot allowance.
Inspect and replace
- Tread not worn smooth
- No cuts or cracks through the upper exposing the toe cap
- Sole not separating from the upper
- Replace boots that took a heavy impact or compression, even if they look fine
- No nails or screws stuck in the sole
- Laces, eyelets and zippers intact; boots tied snugly for ankle support
- Insoles not worn flat; no rubbing or pain
Wet concrete: concrete that gets inside your boots can cause severe chemical burns. Wear tall rubber boots, tuck pants inside, and wash skin right away if concrete gets in. See Concrete & Formwork.
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1910.136: Foot protection
- 29 CFR 1926.96: Occupational foot protection (construction)
- ASTM F2413: Performance requirements for protective toe cap footwear
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