Back to Safety clothing and Equipment main page1. What is it for?Safety footwear is designed to protect against injury caused by: heavy or sharp objects;liquid or acid spills;oil;heat;slippery work areas; andelectricity.Different types are available, depending on the hazards likely to be encountered. 2. What types are available?There are many types of safety boot. Your health and safety risk assessment should establish if there are any risks of damage to your feet in the course of your work and, if so, which type of safety footwear is appropriate. Whichever type is chosen must comply with national standards or European norms.Anti-static boots: These are non-slip boots with a chrome-leather upper and a man-made, anti-static sole. They have integral steel toecaps and reinforced padded ankles. They are designed to be used in potentially flammable or explosive atmospheres, such as oil and gas tankers.Non-slip boots: These are similar to anti-static boots, but with non-slip tread patterns. Not suitable for use in potentially flammable or explosive atmospheres.Other safety footwear: In certain situations other types of footwear may be more appropriate, e.g. deck shoes and uniform shoes, all of which have non-slip properties. Safety shoes and protective overshoes are also available. 3. Where must foot protection be worn?If you work in oil installations, or onboard tanker vessels, you must wear anti-static footwear at all times. Other footwear is not suitable.Safety footwear may be mandatory in other areas for example in a warehouse where a forklift is working to protect against a crush injury caused by a pallet or falling object — a sign similar to that shown in Appendix E should be displayed to warn you. 4. What are its limitations?All safety footwear should be ‘non-slip’. This does not guarantee that you will not slip in the slipperiest conditions — the footwear merely lessens the risk. Spills and leaks of liquid will also reduce their effectiveness. Oil or solvents may permanently damage the non-slip surface.Safety boots will not protect you against a mains electric shock, but could offer limited protection against lower voltages. 5. How do I look after it?Look after safety boots and shoes in exactly the same way as you would conventional footwear, i.e. keep them clean and dry. Once the tread becomes so worn that the non-slip properties are greatly reduced, you should replace them.Back to topThe guidance contained in this section intended to serve as a general reminder of the risks that are sometimes encountered during the examination and sampling procedure and of the safety equipment that you should use and precautions that you should take.You must refer to the legislation and the guidance of your national administration for more information.
