There is no clear-cut standard or requirement that leather is preferred over any other type of material – but there are times when certain materials are certainly NOT appropriate.OSHA addresses the fact that socks worn with sandals make the sandals safer – NOT! It seems that employees are adamant that the workplace should never infringe on their personal sense of foot fashion or comfort – but my argument has always been, what about safety?
Casual footwear that exposes employees’ feet to injury from dropped contaminated needles and sharps and exposure to pharmaceuticals and hazardous chemicals is a legitimate safety concern in healthcare facilities. OSHA says it is the employer’s responsibility to identify the hazard and situations where reasonable occupational exposure exists and to take measures to prevent the exposure.
One measure is to provide personal protective equipment for those exposure-prone situations. Another solution is to make the choice of footwear subject to the business’s dress code. OSHA has stated several times, “businesses can make this type of dress code determination without regard to a worker’s potential exposure to blood, OPIM or any other recognized hazards.”
When there is occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, requires the employer to provide, at no cost to the employee, APPROPRIATE personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, gloves, gowns, eye protection, shoe covers, laboratory coats, or other equipment deemed necessary [See 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(3)(i)]. Therefore, in circ*mstances where it is reasonable to anticipate that blood will contact the feet, employers must provide employees with protective gear to cover shoes which will be worn outside. By definition, personal protective equipment will be considered “appropriate” only if it does not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through to or reach the employee’s work clothes, street clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time which the protective equipment will be used [See 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(3)].
It is the employer’s responsibility to ascertain whether or not there is reasonable likelihood of exposure to blood or OPIM at their workplace. Nonetheless, the determination of appropriate footwear in the absence of the exposure to blood, OPIM, pharmaceuticals and hazardous chemicals or any other recognized hazard would be up to the employer. Plain and simple – OSHA does not forbid employers from setting protocol for prescribed work attire. Nor does the agency say employees can’t wear casual footwear—including sandals, clogs and Crocs. What they say is that you – as the employer – must conduct a workplace hazard evaluation, and if casual footwear is not protective of employees’ feet, the employer must then have a clear policy that casual footwear is not allowed.
Article written by Stephen Burt, MFA, BS
FAQs
The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a ...
What is the ANSI standard for safety shoes? ›
ANSI's standard for safety footwear is the ASTM F2413 standard. This standard covers the minimum requirements for safety footwear, including impact and compression resistance, metatarsal protection, and electrical hazard protection.
What are the rules for safety shoes? ›
Safety shoes or boots must have a leather upper, non-skid soles, oil resistance and impact and compression resistance ratings of 75. The shoes must also have built-in toe caps to meet requirements. Protective footwear is required for employees at risk of injury from: Rolling equipment.
Are Crocs an OSHA violation? ›
OSHA doesn't specifically approve or disapprove brands like Crocs. Rather, they outline general guidelines that all work shoes should follow. For instance, you need foot protection if there's a risk of foot injuries from falling or rolling objects, objects piercing the sole, or exposure to electrical hazards.
What is ASTM standard for footwear OSHA? ›
Footwear is third-party tested as per ASTM F2412: Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection to measure resistance to hazards that may result in worker injury. Each protection criteria test is administered three times, and the lowest score is used to ensure compliance with minimum performance requirements.
What does OSHA say about foot protection? ›
In general, the standard requires that foot protection be used whenever it is necessary by reason of hazard of processes or environment which could cause foot injury. Normally, the employer will determine which, if any, of the employees are exposed to a foot injury hazard.
What is the footwear policy for employees? ›
Appropriate foot protection is required when employees are in areas where there is danger of foot injuries due to falling and rolling objects, slip hazards or objects piercing the sole, and where employees are exposed to electrical hazards. 1.2.
Does OSHA require employers to provide safety shoes? ›
With few exceptions, OSHA requires employers to pay for personal protective equipment when it is used to comply with OSHA standards. These typically include: hard hats, gloves, goggles, safety shoes, safety glasses, welding helmets and goggles, face shields, chemical protective equipment and fall protection equipment.
Are safety shoes mandatory? ›
Work in any environment where there is a risk of slipping requires slip-resistant shoes. Where there is the risk of a shoe being crushed or hit by an object, or even caught in machinery, safety footwear must be provided.
Why don t gyms allow Crocs? ›
According to Dr. Michaels, Crocs do not offer adequate midfoot and ankle support for strenuous workouts like walking on a treadmill, running long distances, or lifting weights. In addition, its loose fit does not make it the ideal shoe for foot protection or stability at the gym.
Blood or bodily fluids can seep into the shoe holes, causing an infection control risk. Sharp objects could go through one of the holes.
Does OSHA require closed toe shoes? ›
Are we allowed to wear open-toe shoes? Response: OSHA does not have a specific policy on the wearing of open-toe shoes in an office environment.
What is considered improper footwear? ›
Improper footwear can cause arch pain, and they can even exacerbate other foot conditions such as bunions or corns. The five most problematic shoes are high heels (especially stilettos), pointy shoes, flip-flops, shoes that aren't designed for your activity, and unsupportive shoes.
What shoes are not appropriate for work? ›
Avoid sandals that are too informal, like flip flops, or inappropriate for the office, like strappy heels.
What are the shoe requirements for healthcare workers? ›
Protective Footwear Standards
These standards don't specify footwear types, but they do mandate that employees must use protective footwear if there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, objects piercing the sole, or exposure to an electrical hazard.
What are the rules for office footwear? ›
Appropriate footwear must be worn within the workplace where specific footwear is designated. This means that there must be some protection provided to the person from slips, trips, and falls, plus protection from cuts and infections.
