Foot Protection Program

Safety Footwear What should I know about safety footwear?What should I know about the fit and care of safety footwear?What symbols will be on the footwear?Will there be other markings?What should I know about safety footwear?
If you are at risk for foot injury at your workplace, you should wear the appropriate protective footwear.
If foot protection is required, set up a complete foot safety protection program including selection, fit testing, training, maintenance and inspection.
Safety footwear is designed to protect feet against a wide variety of injuries. Impact, compression, and puncture are the most common types of foot injury.
Choose footwear according to the hazard. Refer to CSA Standard Z195-02 "Protective Footwear" (Reaffirmed 2007).
Select CSA-certified footwear. Ensure that it has the proper rating for the hazard and the proper sole for the working conditions.
Use metatarsal protection (top of the foot between the toes and ankle) where there is a potential for injury.
The OSH Answers section on Foot Comfort and Safety at Work has more information on foot care and selection of protective footwear.
What should I know about the fit and care of safety footwear?
Fit:
Walk in new footwear to ensure it is comfortable.
Boots should have ample toe room (toes should be about 12.5 mm from the front)
Make allowances for extra socks or special arch supports when buying boots.
Boots should fit snugly around the heel and ankle when laced.
Lace up boots fully. High-cut boots provide support against ankle injury.
Care:
Use a protective coating to make footwear water-resistant.
Inspect footwear regularly for damage.
Repair or replace worn or defective footwear.
Electric shock resistance of footwear is greatly reduced by wet conditions and with wear.
What symbols will be on the footwear?
The following symbols, or markings, will help you determine which footwear is appropriate for the job.
Selection of Safety Footwear
Marking
Criteria
Use

Green triangle footwear has sole puncture protection with a Grade 1 protective toe (withstand impact up to 125 joules).
Any industrial or heavy work environment, including construction, where sharp objects are present (such as nails).

Yellow triangle footwear has sole puncture protection and Grade 2 protective toe (withstand impact up to 90 joules)
Light industrial work environments that need both puncture and toe protection.

White rectangle with orange Greek letter "omega" footwear has soles that provide electric shock resistance.
Any industrial environment where accidental contact with live electrical conductors can occur. (REMEMBER: Electric shock resistance is greatly reduced by wet conditions and with wear)

Yellow Rectangle with green letters "SD" and grounding symbol footwear has soles that are static dissipative.
Any industrial environment where a static discharge can be a hazard for workers or equipment.

Red rectangle with black letter "C" and grounding symbol footwear has soles that are electrically conductive.
For any industrial environment where low-power electrical charges can be a hazard for workers or equipment.

White label with green fir tree symbol footwear provides protection when using chainsaws.
For forestry workers and others who work with or around hand-held chainsaws and other cutting tools.
Note 1: The ® symbol indicates the preferred position for the identifying logo or mark or the certifying agency.
Note 2: Labels are on the tongue of the right shoe at ankle height. They may also appear at ankle height on the shoe itself (for electrical protection footwear)
From: "Z195.1-02 Guideline on Selection, Care and Use of Protective Footwear" , Canadian Standards Association, 2002.
Will there be other markings?
Yes. An "internal protection code" is also required. This code will be permanently marked on the outside or inside of at least one shoe/boot.
Protection Code
Position:
1
2
3
4
5
Mark:
1
P
M
E
X
Position:
1 -- level of toe protection (1 for Grade 1, 2 for Grade 2, 0 for neither)
2 -- presence of puncture-resistant sole (P if present, 0 if not)
3 -- presence of metatarsal protection (M if present, 0 if not)
4 -- type of electrical protection (E if shock resistant, S if static dissipative, C if conductive, 0 if no protection)
5 -- chainsaw protection (X if present, 0 if not)
From: "Z195.1-02 Guideline on Selection, Care and Use of Protective Footwear", Canadian Standards Association, 2002.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety


Foot Comfort and Safety at Work
Why is foot comfort important?What are some causes of foot problems?How does the working position contribute to the foot problem?How does the flooring contribute to the foot problems?How does the foot wear contribute to the foot problems?What are some specific examples of workplace foot injuries?How can foot injuries be prevented?How can the job design improve foot safety?How can the workplace design improve foot safety?How can one improve the foot safety in workplaces where foot injuries occur frequently?How can the kind of floor improve foot comfort?What should I know about footwear?What should I know when I buy footwear for work?What should I know about protective footwear?What type of footwear is appropriate for cold conditions?How should I care about feet?What exercises can I do at the workstation?Why is foot comfort important?
As the old saying goes, "When your feet hurt, you hurt all over."
There are two major categories of work-related foot injuries. The first category includes foot injuries from punctures, crushing, sprains, and lacerations. They account for 10 percent of all reported disabling injuries. The second group of injuries includes those resulting from slips, trips and falls. They account for 15 percent of all reported disabling injuries. Slips and falls do not always result in a foot injury but lack of attention to foot safety plays an important role in their occurrence.
These two categories of foot injuries, however, do not exhaust the whole range of foot problems at work. There are also other conditions such as calluses, ingrown toenails or simply tired feet that are common among workers. Although these may not be considered as occupational injuries in the strictest sense, they can have serious consequences for health and safety at the workplace. They cause discomfort, pain and fatigue. Fatigue sets up the worker for further injuries affecting the muscles and joints. Also, a worker who is tired and suffering pain is less alert and more likely to act unsafely. An accident of any kind may result.
What are some causes of foot problems?
Some foot problems are so common that they can occur in virtually any workplace and under any working conditions.
Foot Problems
Common Causes
Severely aching feet, blisters, calluses, corns, hard flooring, rheumatism, arthritis, malformations of toes, fallen arches (flat feet), bunions, sprains
Long periods of standing, hard flooring, and poorly fitted footwear: -high heels -pointed shoes -lack of arch support -too loose or too tight footwear
Sweaty feet, fungal infections (athlete's foot)
Hot and humid environment, strenuous work, footwear with synthetic (non-porous) uppers
There are no comprehensive statistics on these kinds of problems with feet. Surveys suggest that two out of every three workers suffer from some form of a foot problem.
How does the working position contribute to the foot problem?
Common foot problems occur both on and off the job. Still, there is no doubt that some work-related factors can lead to foot problems, especially jobs that require long periods of standing. Since the human foot is designed for mobility, maintaining an upright stance is extremely tiring. Standing for hours, day after day, not only tires the worker's feet but can also cause permanent damage. Continuous standing can cause the joints of bones of the feet to become misaligned (e.g., cause flat feet) and can cause inflammation that can lead later to rheumatism and arthritis.
How does the flooring contribute to the foot problems?
The type of flooring used in the workplace has an important influence on comfort, especially on tender feet. Hard, unyielding floors like concrete are the least comfortable surfaces to work on. Working on a hard floor has the impact of a hammer, pounding the heel at every step. Slippery floors are hazardous for slips and falls that can result in sprained ankles or broken foot bones.
How does the foot wear contribute to the foot problems?
Footwear that fits poorly or is in of repair also contributes heavily to foot discomfort. Pointed toes and high heels are particularly inappropriate for working footwear.
Prolonged standing, hard flooring and inappropriate footwear are common working conditions. Are there jobs that are safe for feet? Statistics show there are not, really. Among teachers and workers in clerical occupations that belong to "safe" jobs, foot injuries account for from 15 percent to more than 20 percent of all disabling injuries. Not knowing about the need for foot protection in workplaces like schools or offices can play a role in the onset of foot problems.
What are some specific examples of workplace foot injuries?
Injuries
Common Causes
Crushed or broken feet, amputations of toes or feet
Feet trapped between objects or caught in a crack, falls of heavy objects, moving vehicles (lift trucks, bulldozers, etc.), conveyor belts (feet drawn between belt and roller)
Punctures of the sole of the foot
Loose nails, sharp metal or glass objects
Cuts or severed feet or toes, lacerations
Chain saws, rotary mowers, unguarded machinery
Burns
Molten metal splashes, chemical splashes, contact with fire, flammable or explosive atmospheres
Electric shocks
Static electricity, contact with sources of electricity
Sprained or twisted ankles, fractured or broken bones because of slips, trips or falls
Slippery floors, littered walkways, incorrect footwear, poor lighting.
Additional hazards for foot injury exist in outdoor jobs such as logging, hydro linework or fishing which involve freezing temperatures, or wetness in low temperature: frostbite and trench foot.
How can foot injuries be prevented?
There is no workplace where a worker is immune to foot injury. However, the hazards differ according to the workplace and the types of tasks the worker does. The first step in developing a strategy to reduce foot problems is to identify the relevant hazards at the workplace. Such hazards should be assessed in each workplace, no matter how safe or how dangerous it may seem.
How can the job design improve foot safety?
Aching, flat or tired feet are common among workers who spend most of their working time standing.
The most important goal of job design is to avoid fixed positions especially fixed standing positions. Good job design includes varied tasks requiring changes in body position and using different muscles. Job rotation, job enlargement and team work are all ways to make work easier on the feet.
Job rotation moves workers from one job to another. It distributes standing among a group of workers and shortens the time each individual spends standing. However, it must be a rotation where the worker does something completely different such as walking around or sitting at the next job.
Job enlargement includes more and different tasks in a worker's duties. If it increases the variety of body positions and motions, the worker has less chance of developing foot problems.
Team work gives the whole team more control and autonomy in planning and allocation of the work. Each team member carries a set of various operations to complete the whole product. Team work allows workers to alternate between tasks which, in turn, reduces the risk of overloading the feet.
Rest breaks help to alleviate foot problems where redesigning jobs is impractical. Frequent short breaks are preferable to fewer long breaks.
How can the workplace design improve foot safety?
However, redesigning the job alone will not effectively reduce foot problems if it is not combined with the proper design of the workplace.
For standing jobs, an adjustable work surface is the best choice. If the work surface is not adjustable, two solutions include installing a platform to raise the shorter worker or a pedestal to raise the object for a taller worker.
Work station design should allow the worker room to change body position.
A foot-rail or footrest enables the worker to shift weight from one leg to the other. This ability reduces the stress on the lower legs and feet.
Where possible, a worker should be able to work sitting or standing at will. Even when work can only be done while standing, a seat should be provided for resting purposes.
How can one improve the foot safety in workplaces where foot injuries occur frequently?
Job and workplace designs also have the potential to increase foot safety in workplaces that are specifically hazardous. Here are some examples:
Separating mobile equipment from pedestrian traffic and installing safety mirrors and warning signs can decrease the number of accidents that might result in cut or crushed feet or toes.
Proper guarding of machines such as chain saws or rotary mowers can avoid cuts or severed feet or toes.
Effective housekeeping reduces the number of accidents at workplaces. For example, loose nails, other sharp objects, and littered walkways are hazards for foot injury.
Using colour contrast and angular lighting to improve depth vision in complicated areas such as stairs, ramps and passageways reduces the hazard of tripping and falling.
How can the kind of floor improve foot comfort?
Standing or working on a hard, unyielding floor can cause a lot of discomfort. Wood, cork, carpeting, or rubber - anything that provides some flexibility - is gentler on workers' feet. Where resilient floors are not practical, footwear with thick, insulating soles and shock-absorbing insoles can alleviate discomfort. Anti-fatigue matting can also be useful wherever workers have to stand or walk. They provide a cushioning which reduces foot fatigue. However, the use of matting requires caution. When installed improperly, it can lead to tripping and slipping accidents.
Special anti-slip flooring or matting can reduce slipping accidents. If installed properly, these mats are useful, but workers may find that their feet burn and feel sore. The non-slip properties of the flooring mat cause their shoes to grab suddenly on the flooring making their feet slide forward inside the shoes. Friction inside the shoes produces heat that creates soreness and, eventually, calluses. A non-slip resilient insole can reduce this discomfort.
What should I know about footwear?
Proper footwear is important, not only for foot comfort but also for one's general well-being. Improper footwear can cause or aggravate existing foot problems. Unfortunately, being fashionable sometimes takes precedence over choosing well-fitting, supportive safety footwear. However, many safety footwear manufacturers produce safety footwear that does look fashionable.
The best way to involve workers in programs to protect their feet is to provide:
training and information on the health hazards of wearing improper shoes,
the principles for selecting proper ones, and
the simple rules of general foot care.
What should I know when I buy footwear for work?
Good footwear should have the following qualities:
The inner side of the shoe must be straight from the heel to the end of the big toe.
The shoe must grip the heel firmly.
The forepart must allow freedom of movement for the toes.
The shoe must have a fastening across the instep to prevent the foot from slipping when walking.
The shoe must have a low, wide-based heel; flat shoes are recommended.
People buying footwear for work should take the following advice:
Do not expect that footwear which is too tight will stretch with wear.
Have both feet measured when buying shoes. Feet normally differ in size.
Buy shoes to fit the bigger foot.
Buy shoes late in the afternoon when feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum size.
Ask a doctor's advice if properly fitting shoes are not available.
Consider using shock-absorbing insoles where the job requires walking or standing on hard floors.
When selecting footwear, one should remember that tight socks or stockings can cramp the toes as much as poorly-fitted shoes. Wrinkled socks, or socks that are too large or too small, can cause blisters. White woollen or cotton socks may be recommended since coloured socks cause skin allergies in some people.
What should I know about protective footwear?
In designing strategies to protect foot injury, one has to remember the fundamental principle of occupational health and safety: that occupational hazards should be eliminated at the source. The role of personal protective equipment is to minimize exposure to specific occupational hazards, not to eliminate them. Protective footwear does not guarantee total protection. The OSH Answers document Designing an Effective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program discusses personal protective equipment in more detail.
All jurisdictions in Canada require that workers wear adequate protection against workplace hazards. For workers exposed to foot hazards, the required protection is protective footwear certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Standard "Protective Footwear", CAN/CSA-Z195-02, Reaffirmed 2007). In the US, in 2005, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z41 "Personal Protection - Protective Footwear" was replaced by a number of standards from the American Society of Testing Material (ASTM) International Standards which include F2412-05 Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection and F2413-05 Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Foot Protection.
Providing adequate protective footwear is an effective protective strategy. By providing CSA-approved protective footwear and requiring its use, the Ontario construction industry reduced the frequency of foot injuries by 60 percent over the fifteen years between 1968 and 1984.
All working footwear, for both men and women, whether it is safety wear or not, should provide comfort without compromising protective value. In addition, protective footwear should conform with CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z195-02 or appropriate standard for your jurisdiction.
A steel toe cap should cover the whole length of the toes from tips to beyond the natural bend of the foot. A soft pad covering the edge of the toecap increases comfort. If the toecap cuts into the foot, either the size or style of the footwear is incorrect.
Soles come in a variety of thicknesses and materials. They need to be chosen according to the hazards and type(s) of flooring in the workplace.
Uppers of protective footwear come in a variety of materials. Selection should take into account the hazards, and individual characteristics of the worker's foot.
A steel midsole which protects the foot against penetration by sharp objects should be flexible enough to allow the foot to bend.
No one type of non-slip footwear can prevent the wearer from slipping on every surface type.
What type of footwear is appropriate for cold conditions?
Selection should be made to suit the specific working condition. Working outdoors in cold weather poses a special requirement on selecting the proper footwear. "Normal" protective footwear is not designed for cold weather. "Insulated" footwear gives little temperature protection in the sole for it has no extra insulation there. Loss of heat through steel toe caps (commonly blamed for increased heat loss) is insignificant.
Foot protection against cold weather can be resolved by:
Insulating the legs by wearing warmers--"dancercise" type.
Wearing insulating overshoes over work footwear.
Wearing insulating muffs around the ankles and over the top of the footwear.
How should I care about feet?
Feet are subject to a great variety of skin and toenail disorders. Workers can avoid many of them by following simple rules of foot care:
Wash feet daily with soap, rinse thoroughly and dry, especially between the toes.
Trim toenails straight across and not too short. Do not cut into the corners.
Wear clean socks or stockings and change them daily.
Some feet sweat more than others and are more prone to athlete's foot. Again, following a few simple guidelines may help:
Select shoes made of leather or canvas--not synthetic materials.
Keep several pairs of shoes on hand and rotate shoes daily to allow them to air out.
For some workers, non-coloured woollen or cotton socks may be recommended since dyes may cause or aggravate skin allergies.
Use foot powder.
If problems persist, see a doctor.
In cases of persisting ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, fungal infection and more serious conditions such as flat feet and arthritis, see a doctor and follow the doctor's advice.
What exercises can I do at the workstation?
Standing still requires considerable muscular effort. Even so, it is not exercise--only a strain. It does not allow for the alternate contracting and relaxing of muscles of the feet and legs.
To keep feet healthy, it is necessary to compensate for working in a stationary position. One action that can be done frequently on the job is alternately to contract and relax the calf muscles, and flex and straighten ankles and knees. Another bit of advice is to walk whenever practical instead of riding. More information on exercise for feet can be obtained from a foot specialist or from a local fitness centre.
By courtesy of :-
Document last updated on September 12, 2007
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety




Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) Occupational foot protection. - 1910.136

Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) - Table of Contents

• Part Number:
1910
• Part Title:
Occupational Safety and Health Standards
• Subpart:
I
• Subpart Title:
Personal Protective Equipment
• Standard Number:
1910.136
• Title:
Occupational foot protection.


1910.136(a)
General requirements. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards.
1910.136(b)
Criteria for protective footwear.
1910.136(b)(1)
Protective footwear purchased after July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI Z41-1991, "American National Standard for Personal Protection-Protective Footwear," which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6, or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be equally effective.
1910.136(b)(2)
Protective footwear purchased before July 5, 1994 shall comply with the ANSI standard "USA Standard for Men's Safety-Toe Footwear," Z41.1-1967, which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6, or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be equally effective.
[59 FR 16360, April 6, 1994; 59 FR 33910, July 1, 1994; 61 FR 9227, March 7, 1996; 61 FR 19547, May 2, 1996; 61 FR 21228, May 9, 1996]