How Does Safety Shoes Work?

Understanding Safety Shoes

What types are available? What are their differences?

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Safety shoes that meet ASTM F requirements are an essential part of personal protective equipment (PPE) in various industries. They are designed to protect the feet from a wide range of hazards, including falling objects, sharp items, electrical risks and slippery surfaces. Let’s explore the different types of safety shoes available and highlight their unique features and uses, along with standards they should meet.

Steel Toe Shoes

Steel toe shoes are among the most common types of safety footwear. They have a reinforced steel toe cap that protects the toes from impact and compression injuries. Key Features:

• Toe protection. The steel toe cap can withstand significant impact and compression forces.

• Durability. Steel is durable with long-lasting protection.

• Weight. Steel toe shoes are generally heavier than other types of safety shoes.

• Applications. Steel toe shoes are ideal for construction sites, manufacturing plants and any environment where there is a risk of heavy objects falling on the feet. Many assume that steel toe shoes cannot be used around electrical hazards. However, as long as the steel toe cap is insulated, the steel toe will not conduct electricity.

Composite Toe Shoes

Composite toe shoes provide similar protection to steel toe shoes but use non-metal materials like Kevlar, carbon fiber or plastic. Key Features:

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• Lightweight. Composite materials are lighter than steel, making the shoes more comfortable for all-day wear on the job.

• Non-conductive. They do not conduct electricity, making them suitable for electrical environments.

• Temperature resistance. Composite toe shoes do not get as cold or hot as steel toe shoes in extreme temperatures, making for a better option for applications such as foundry work or cold storage.

• Applications. These shoes are suitable for environments where metal detectors are used, and for electrical work where non-conductive footwear is required.

Alloy Toe Shoes

Alloy toe shoes use lighter metals such as aluminum or titanium to provide toe protection. Key Features:

• Lightweight. Alloys are lighter than steel but still offer strong protection.

Safety Shoes are historically any shoe which is built with a safety toe.  Originally, these were made of steel and called “Steel Toes”, but now, we have safety shoes made with Aluminum Alloy, Composite Material, and Carbon Fiber (new) safety toes.  These Safety Shoes were originally built to just protect toes and were tested to the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards, but then the safety shoe standards were moved to the ASTM (American Standards for Testing and Materials).   

Over the years, safety shoes have morphed into several highly specialized shoes that are asked to do much more than protect workers’ toes.  There are Metatarsal Guards that protect the Metatarsal bones in the foot, Electrical Hazard to protect workers from Electrical Shock, Static Dissipating that reduce the build-up of electric static charge on workers, Conductive that reduce the static charge in explosive environments, Puncture Resistant that prevent punctures through the sole, Heat Resistant that protect feet from hot environments, and Slip-Resistant that reduce slipping hazards.