Steel-toed boots are worn in so many workplaces but do you know why? What is the purpose of steel-toe boots and should you be wearing them in your job or wearing ordinary footwear instead?
Here’s everything you need to know about steel-toe boots and how this form of protective footwear is essential when it comes to occupational safety.
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What Are Steel Toe Boots Made For?
Steel toe boots are designed to protect toes and feet in hazardous work environments. They provide impact resistance, toe crush protection, and comply with safety regulations. They are designed for durability and protect your feet from falling objects, heavy machinery, and other workplace hazards.
Steel-toe boots are essential in many types of industries and workplaces such as buildings and construction, factory and warehouse settings and anywhere where additional safety shoes are required.
A great example of a quality steel toe boot is these Wolverine Waterproof Boots that are comfortable, durable, and slip-resistant.
How Do Steel Toe Boots Work?
Steel toe boots differ from ordinary boots because the front toe section of the boot has been reinforced with a steel section to protect the toes. Under current safety regulations, this section must be able to withstand a 200-joule impact at a minimum.
This means that if something drops on your foot or gets hit by rolling objects you should be protected from serious injury provided that the impact is less than the defined safety level.
Some steel toe boots have additional safety features to help protect from a puncture from sharp objects, electrical hazards, heat, water penetration as well as chemicals and oi
Why Steel Toe Boots?
So why buy steel-toe boots rather than other types? Well, steel is strong, inexpensive and a durable product which means that it is a great solution to prevent foot injuries.
Steel-toe boots are not however perfect. Usually, the boots weigh considerably more than normal boots which can tire yourself and your feet out if you are wearing them all day.
The steel also sets off metal detectors which is problematic if your safety footwear needs to be worn anywhere where they could set off alarms.
Whilst steel-toe boots are probably the most well-known there are also composite-toe boots available on the market which also help protect workers. These are not suitable for every work environment but they are usually more lightweight than the steel versions and don’t give you any issues with metal detectors.
How Do Steel Toe Boots Protect You?
What is the purpose of steel-toe boots? Well, to protect you from hazards and injuries. Here are just some of the ways that steel-toe footwear helps keep you safe.
Safety Regulation Requirements
Wearing steel-toe boots has become a requirement in certain workplaces because safety regulations have got so much better. Health and safety regulations are designed to make sure that workers don’t get injured because of their occupation.
Employers are now required by law in many countries to make sure that you are protected from hazards in the workplace and one way this can be easily done is by getting their workers to wear protective clothing and footwear such as steel toe boots.
Workers who don’t wear steel-toed boots get significantly more injuries which is why they are an excellent choice of hazard protection.
Prevent Injuries From Falling Objects
Certain industries such as construction or warehouse work often involve moving and lifting heavy objects as part of the job. If one of those objects were to fall on your feet whilst you were wearing ordinary shoes or boots you could suffer a serious foot injury.
If however, you have steel toe caps in your boots you are much less likely to have a problem because your feet have protection that cushions the blow.
Steel-toe boots can stop you from suffering from minor injuries such as bruises to fractures.
They Stop Crush Injuries
The risk on construction sites and other hazardous workplaces doesn’t just involve problems with falling objects but crushing or compression injuries as well.
As an example, a person could suffer an injury from a forklift truck rolling over their foot.
If you wear steel-toe boots they can help to cushion so that your feet are not crushed by heavy objects.
They Help Prevent Injuries From Rolling Objects
Rolling objects are also a hazard in certain workplaces. As an example a heavy oil drum rolling towards your feet.
Quality steel-toe boots can prevent injury provided that the hazard hits your feet around the steel-toe section of the boot. They may be less able to cope with objects that hit feet from the side.
Protection From Sharp Objects
I’ve talked about falling or rolling objects as well as compression injuries but what about protection from sharp objects? For example nails, glass, or metal fragments.
A steel toe cap is a great way of protecting your feet from sharp objects in the workplace.
It’s worth noting that some steel-toe cap boots like these Timberland Pro Endurance Boots also have extra protection built in for puncture injuries that could occur on the sole of the shoe.
They Are Durable Boots
What many people forget about steel-toe boots is that they are also an incredibly durable form of footwear which is essential if you work in certain challenging environments.
Normal boots may not be able to withstand harsh working conditions, rough terrains, and bad weather for any significant period of time.
When you buy a steel-toed boot you are looking for footwear that is well-constructed and long-lasting because you don’t want the boot to fail on you.
They Offer Stability and Support
Steel-toe boots don’t just offer you protection because of the metal section at the front of the shoe. They also help because of the way they are built.
Usually, the boots have a wide base and lace-ups that can come up to your ankle. This means that they help to prevent your feet from sprains or other foot injuries.
Normal boots don’t always have the same level of support features.
Steel-Toe Boots and Electrical Hazards
Certain types of steel-toe boots like these Thorogood American Heritage 8” Steel Toe Work Boots for Men are also suitable to protect you from electrical hazards. The boots in this case have built-in electrical resistance to prevent you from electric shocks.
Make sure that if you do need boots for this purpose you double-check whether the brand you are looking to buy has this feature otherwise you could be left vulnerable in the workplace.
Traction For Oil and Water
Certain types of steel-toe footwear also offer superior traction for situations where you may be walking in environments that involve oil and water.
Heat and Chemical Resistance
Finally, some steel-toed boots also offer heat and chemical resistance properties such as these LARNMERN Waterproof Steel Toe Boots.
Make sure you check the standard you need in your workplace and buy the appropriate boots to keep yourself safe.
What Are Steel Toe Boots Designed To Do?
So what is the purpose of steel-toe boots?
To sum it all up they are great work boots that offer superior protection from many different types of hazards. Basic models will keep you safe from injuries from heavy falling or rolling objects but further protection can be achieved if you buy designs that help prevent punctures, offer extra traction and are heat and chemical resistant.
Buy the right type for your work environment and you are helping to keep yourself safe from easily preventable injuries.
More Information About Steel-Toe Boots
How to Stop Steel-Toe Boots From Hurting
Are Steel-Toe Boots Dangerous?
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