Footwear in the workplace: Comfort and safety
The expression "if the shoe fits, then wear it" may be appropriate for some situations. However, choosing the right footwear for work requires more than just a proper fit. Choosing the correct footwear for work is important not only for comfort but also for safety.
Most employees wear their work shoes more than any other shoe they may own. Spending eight or more hours in them a day makes choosing the right shoe so important. From a safety perspective, the workplace environment may dictate the type of boot or shoe one should wear to keep the employee protected from certain hazards.
OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, provides regulatory requirements for certain hazards in the workplace when it comes to footwear. Having the proper protection for the employee is important. By ensuring the proper footwear, employers can ensure safety for their employees but also avoid costly work-related injuries and keep the employee productive.
Work-related injuries that involve footwear include slips, trips, falls, as well as sprains and strains. Crush injuries to the feet and toes are also common injuries.
Workplace hazards regarding footwear use vary quite a bit. A construction site is clearly different from an office or a hospital. Common workplace hazards include rolling or falling objects, wet or slippery surfaces and exposure to the elements, such as cold weather or wet conditions. Risks less likely to be encountered by the average worker include electrical hazards, explosives, very hot substances and sharp objects.
Employees who work in environments with slippery surfaces such as those employed in kitchens, health care settings and factories, may be exposed to oil, grease or water. These employees should wear slip-resistant shoes to prevent slips and falls.
Also, to prevent injuries in these industries, additional precautions should be taken, including keeping walking and standing surfaces as dry as possible, prompt spill cleanup, and oil and grease containment and removal. Signage may reinforce reminders to employees to keep them safe.
Employees who work outside are exposed to the elements such as snow, rain and cold. Occupations such as postal workers, delivery workers, construction workers and car wash employees are a few that may encounter these conditions.
These employees should have footwear that protects them from the cold as well as moisture. Insulated boots and those that are water resistant can protect against cold-induced injuries such as frostbite.
Water-resistant boots can also protect employees from the cold by keeping their feet dry and preventing injuries to the skin of the feet due to excessive moisture.
For employees who work in environments where heavy objects could drop on their feet or toes, or could be rolled over by equipment such as machinery, footwear should have protection over the toes and may need protection over the top of the foot known as the metatarsal area. Metatarsal guards and steel toe or composite shoes or boots are very common in the workplace and may prevent a painful injury to the employee.
Employees whose jobs involve electrical circuits or being around high voltage such as electricians should wear electrical hazard boots. These boots are nonconductive and may reduce the risk for electrocution to the employee. Employees who may work with explosive or flammable materials should consider the use of footwear that helps prevent the buildup of static electricity which could cause a spark leading to a fire or explosion.
• Jeffrey Williamson-Link, MD, is a specialist in occupational medicine and Medical Director of Occupational Health for Edward-Elmhurst Health.