Types of Safety Shoes

Ensuring your employees have the right footwear for the job is essential to their safety, comfort, and productivity. Use this guide to assess the needs of your work environment and help choose the correct safety shoes for your workers.

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Types of Safety Shoes for Different Work Environments

To comply with federal regulations enforced by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), protective footwear is required for workers in industrial settings and it is considered a form of PPE. Some safety shoes may be designed to protect against one hazard while others are designed to protect against multiple.

Person transporting a hand truck wearing steel toe boots

Safety Toe Shoes

Safety toe shoes feature a metal or nonmetal toe cap to protect toes against impact from falling objects.

Some are also designed to protect against compression, punctures, and cuts
Popular choice for warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and construction sites

Composite Toe Shoes

Composite toe work shoes are made from a combination of durable, non-metal materials such as Kevlar, carbon fiber, and plastic. When comparing composite toe vs steel toe shoes, composite toe boots are more lightweight and breathable, making them a more comfortable choice to wear for long periods of time. They are also less likely to be affected by fluctuating or extreme temperatures.

Pros

Lightweight and breathable
Won't interfere with metal detectors in the workplace, making them ideal for security guards and law enforcement
Poor conductor of electricity makes them an optimal choice for electrical hazard prone environments
Great for use in extreme temperatures because they do not heat up or cool down like metal

Cons

Not as impact-resistant as metal toe shoes
Typically more expensive

Steel Toe Work Shoes

Steel toe work shoes feature a steel capping over the toe area to provide protection against falling objects. One of the most popular and reliable choices for protective footwear, steel toe shoes are ideal for warehouses, manufacturing plants, and other industrial sites working with heavy machinery and objects.

Pros

Offers the maximum protection against impact compared to other safety-toed shoes
Ideal for environments with heavy machinery
Affordable option

Cons

Not ideal for environments with extreme temperatures
Heavy construction may not be comfortable to wear for long periods of time
Set off metal detectors
Conducts electricity

Alloy Toe Work Shoes

Alloy toe shoes are made up of durable yet lightweight materials like aluminum and titanium. They are ideal for industrial work environments where comfort and moveability are just as important as impact resistance.

Pros

More lightweight than steel and composite toe boots (typically 30-50% lighter than steel)
Thinner than steel for more toe room and overall more comfort

Cons

Sets off metal detectors
Conducts electricity
More expensive than steel boots
Slightly less impact-resistant than steel toe shoes

Electrical Hazard Protection Shoes

Electrical hazard protection shoes feature electric-shock-resistant soles and heels that can withstand up to 18,000 volts or 60 Hertz for an entire minute with no current flow or leakage of more than a milliampere.

Nonconductive and will prevent the wearers' feet from completing an electrical circuit to the ground
Ideal for those who work with electricity, circuits, wiring, and high voltage machines

Moisture Protection Shoes

Moisture-resistant shoes are designed to keep feet dry in wet conditions and come in two types: waterproof and water-resistant. Waterproof shoes are best for conditions where you may be standing in areas with shallow water for an extended period of time. Water-resistant shoes are best for conditions where you may need protection from infrequent splashes of water.

Help keep feet dry for optimal working conditions
Protect against mold, rot, and fungus growth

Waterproof Work Shoes

Waterproof shoes have a special membrane coating that will cause water to bead up and roll off the shoe to keep water out and your feet completely dry.

Pros

Ideal for environments with harsh weather conditions and/or where water is frequently present
Provides protection from moisture and cold air
Made with durable materials for long-lasting use

Cons

Less breathable and more heavy-weight
Typically more expensive
Harder to clean

Water-Resistant Work Shoes

Water-resistant shoes will not bead and eventually the material will let water into the shoe.

Pros

Ideal for environments that may have mild, infrequent wet conditions
Breathable and lightweight
Easy to clean

Cons

Will eventually let water inside the shoe
Not ideal for harsh weather environments
Not as durable as waterproof shoes

Factors to Consider When Purchasing Work Shoes

When considering the type of safety shoes you need for the job, it is important to look at the hazards that may be present at your worksite.

If your workplace has any of the following hazards, then you will need to require protective footwear:

Electrical hazards
Hot substances and/or corrosive or poisonous chemicals
Hot, wet, or slippery surfaces
Heavy objects, such as barrels or drums, that could roll and/or fall onto feet
Sharp objects, such as nails or glass, that could puncture the foot
Molten metal that could splash onto feet or legs
Static electricity that could cause an explosion

Here are some other questions to consider when looking for the correct safety shoe:

Will your employees be on their feet for long periods of time? A cushioned insole or midsole will help absorb shock to provide support and prevent foot pain and back aches.

Will your employees be working in cold conditions? Insulated work boots are a must if you work outside or are exposed to other cold conditions.

Footwear Safety Ratings Explained

To be considered protective footwear, a shoe must meet the guidelines set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The ASTM F2413, Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective (Safety) Toe Cap Footwear, sets the minimum standards and testing procedures for safety footwear.

Safety footwear does not need to meet all the below requirements to conform to the ASTM F2413 standard. However, it should clearly state which of the requirements the footwear meets. Here are some protective footwear codes and what rating they stand for:

M: male
F: female
I/75: impact protection rating
C/75: compression protection rating
Mt/75: metatarsal protection rating
CD: conductive protection
EH: electrical hazard resistance
PR: puncture-resistant
SD: static dissipative
WR: water-resistant

How to Read an ASTM-Certified Product's Designation

Let's breakdown the following shoe safety rating by looking at its codes.

ASTM F2413-11
M I/75 C/75
EH

The first line identifies that the shoe complies with the ASTM F2413 standard that was issued in 2011.
In the second line, the M indicates that this is a men's shoe. The I/75 and C/75 ratings denote that the footwear meets Class 75 impact and compression resistance, which means the shoe will protect the user from an impact of up to 75 ft-lb. and compressive loads of 2,500 lb.
The EH rating lets you know that this shoe provides electrical shock resistance protection.

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