Selection of PPE - Foot and Leg Protection

Foot and Leg Protection

Employers must provide foot and leg protection if the workplace hazard assessment reveals potential dangers to these parts of the body. The type of foot or leg protection needed will depend upon the specific hazard youidentify and the specific part of the foot or legs exposed to potential injury. Safety footwear must meet the minimum compression and impact performance standards and testing requirements by ANSI. All safety footwear must comply with ANSI Z41- 1991, "American National Standard for Personal Protection - Protective Footwear."

Safety shoes or boots with impact protection are required to be worn in work areas where carrying or handling materials such as packages, objects, parts or heavy tools, which could be dropped; and for other activities where objects might fall onto the feet. Safety shoes or boots with compression protection are required for work activities involving skid trucks (manual materials handling cars) orotheractivities inwhich materials or equipment could potentially roll over an employee’s feet. Safety shoes or boots with puncture protection are required where sharp objects such as nails, wire, tacks, screws, large staples, scrap metal etc., could be stepped on by employees causing a foot injury.

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Selection guidelines for foot protection

Safety shoes and boots which meet the ANSI Z41-1991 Standard provide both impact and compression protection. Where necessary, safety shoes can be obtained which provide puncture protection. In some work situations, metatarsal protection should be provided, and in other special situations electrical conductive or insulating safety shoes would be appropriate.

Safety shoes or boots with impact protection would be required for carrying or handling materials such as packages, objects, parts or heavy tools, which could be dropped; and, for other activities where objects might fall onto the feet. Safety shoes or boots with compression protection would be required for work activities involving manual material handling carts, around bulk rolls (such as paper rolls), and around heavy pipes, all of which could potentially roll over an employee's feet. Safety shoes or boots with puncture protection would be required where sharp objects such as nails, wire, tacks, screws, large staples, scrap metal etc., could be stepped on by employees causing a foot injury.

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