Potential Hazards:

Workers may be exposed to injuries including:

• Crushing from falling objects,
• Crushing from rolling cylinders,
• Punctures from sharp objects,
• Burns or shocks from electrical hazards,
• Burns from molten metal or hot surfaces,
• Skin contact or burns from chemicals, or
• Slips and falls from wet or slippery surfaces.

Requirements and Example Solutions:

• Workers must wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of falling or rolling objects or objects piercing the sole. [29 CFR 1915.156(a)] Examples include:
  • Impact injuries from carrying or handling materials such as equipment, objects, parts, or heavy tools which could be dropped or from objects that may fall during work activities.
  • Compression injuries from work activities involving forklifts, gas cylinders, and heavy pipes, which could roll onto worker's feet.
  • Puncture injuries from sharp objects such as nails, screws, staples, scrap or sheet metal, which workers may step on.
• Protective footwear must meet ANSI Z41 or equivalent design requirements [29 CFR 1915.156(b)].
• Safety shoes or boots may be required to provide special electrical conduction or insulation to prevent electric shock or static electric spark.
• Chemical-resistant boots may be required to provide protection from caustic, reactive, toxic, or corrosive materials during cleaning, or surface preparation.
• Slip-resistant soled shoes should be worn when working on slippery surfaces.