FootwearDirect Table of Contents Page

Health and Safety

Foot injuries are common in the construction industry (including demolition) and usually result from the following causes:

	Crushing caused by heavy objects falling onto part or all of the foot.
	Foot penetration due to standing or walking onto a sharp object, eg nails left embedded in timber.
	Contact with irritant or corrosive chemicals, eg cement burns when pouring concrete.

NOTE: The selection of footwear for use with chemicals should form part of the assessment required by regulation 6 of the COSHH Regulations 1988.

Legal requirements

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 governs the provision and use of protective clothing, including footwear. Where a risk assessment identifies the need for safety footwear to protect against one or more of the risks outlined in this sheet, this should be provided free of charge by the employer or the self-employed.

What type of safety footwear should be worn on sites?

Where a significant risk of foot injuries exists on construction sites the footwear should:

	Be strong enough to withstand the stresses placed upon it
	Have protected (steel) toe caps capable of resisting a heavy falling object
	If there is an additional risk of foot penetration the footwear should incorporate a steel mid-sole or other armoring to prevent this type of injury.

The footwear should be robust enough and have sufficient grip for the working environment. It should also be:

	Comfortable
	Flexible to reduce the risk of tiring the feet and legs
	Capable of absorbing perspiration and
	Waterproof (where required)

The following types of safety footwear are commonly used in the construction industry:

1 THE SAFETY BOOT OR SHOE. This is the most common type of safety footwear and it has a steel toe-cap and most types have a protected mid-sole. They are usually worn by trades such as groundworkers, bricklayers, demolition workers etc;

2 WELLINGTON BOOTS. These should be worn to protect against water and corrosive materials such as cement. They are usually made from rubber but are available in polyurethane and PVC which is warmer and more resistant to chemicals, oils, petrol, greases and sunlight. Wellington boots can be obtained with corrosion resistant toe-caps, rot-proof insoles, ankle bone padding and cotton linings. They range from ankle boots to chest-high waders. This type of footwear should be worn for operations where water or other liquids may be present, eg in excavations, sewer renovation, concrete pours, etc. For site use the boots should also have impact resistance (steel) toe caps.

3 SAFETY 'TRAINERS'. In recent years a range of softer, more flexible safety footwear, known as safety trainers, have been introduced. These are fitted with a protective toe-cap and anti-slip soles. While their resistance to sole penetration is usually less than that provided by the safety boot they can be worn for a variety of construction activities PROVIDED THE WORKING AREA IS FREE FROM MATERIALS LIKELY TO PENETRATE THE WEARER'S FOOT.

Typical trades that may find safety trainers useful include scaffolders and roofworkers where the level of grip and flexibility of the footwear is important as a safety feature in helping to ensure an adequate foothold when working at heights.

Storage and use of safety Footwear

Safety footwear should be kept in good condition, checked regularly and discarded if worn or deteriorated. Laces should be checked and replaced if necessary. Materials lodged into the tread of the sole should be removed. The stitching should be checked for loose, worn or cut seams. Spraying the upper layers of new footwear with a silicone spray or applying a protective wax will give extra protection against wet conditions.

Do:

	Wear footwear which is the right size, comfortable and suitable for the job.
	Keep the soles clean and free from oil, grease or other contaminants which can reduce the grip and cause the wearer's foot to slip.
	Keep the eyes and laces in good order
	Provide footwear that is waterproof for people working in wet places

DON'T:

	Wear flimsy trainers or sandals on site
	Wear footwear which has been so damaged that protection is reduced, eg steel toe-cap separated from the rest of the boot or shoe
	Replace the laces with bits of wire or string
	Leave the footwear in wet or contaminated areas

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AT WORK L25 HMSO 1992
ISBN 0118863347

CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH AND CONTROL OF CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES. CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH REGULATIONS 1988 APPROVED CODES OF PRACTICE 3rd ed, HMSO 1992 ISBN 011 885698 7

HMSO publications can be ordered by telephoning 071 873 9090

The information it contains is current at 1/93. Please acknowledge the source as HSE