1. Personal Protective Equipment
Foot Protection by
Eric Robinson
Safety Manager
Interbake Foods Inc.

2. Who Needs Foot PPE ?
For protection of feet from falling or rolling objects, sharp objects, molten metal, hot surfaces, and wet slippery surfaces workers should use appropriate safety shoes, or boots.

3. Causes of Foot Problems
Severely aching feet blisters, calluses, corns, hard flooring, rheumatism, arthritis, malformations of toes, fallen arches (flat feet), bunions, sprains
Common Causes:
Long periods of standing, hard flooring, and poorly fitted footwear:
high heals, pointed shoes, lack of arch support, too loose or too tight footwear

4. Causes of Foot Problems ?
Sweaty feet, fungal infections (Athlete’s Foot)
Common Causes:
Hot and humid environment, strenuous work, footwear with synthetic (non-porous) uppers

5. How Does the Working Position Contribute to the Foot Problem ?
Since the human foot is designed for mobility, maintaining an upright stance is extremely tiring.
Continuos standing can cause the joints of the feet to become mis-aligned (flat feet) and cause inflammation that can later lead to rheumatism and arthritis.

6. The Human Foot

7. How Does the Flooring Contribute to the Foot Problems ?
The type of flooring used in the work place has an important influence on comfort.
Hard unyielding floors like concrete are the least comfortable surfaces to work on.
Working on a hard floor has the impact of a hammer, pounding the heel at every step.
Slippery floors are hazardous for slips and falls that can result in sprains or broken bones.

8. How Does the Foot Wear Contribute to the Foot Problems?
Foot wear that fits poorly or is in of repair contributes heavily to foot discomfort

9. Specific Examples of Workplace Foot Injuries
Crushed or broken feet, amputation of toes or feet
Punctures of the sole of the foot
Common Causes:
Feet trapped between objects or caught in a crack, falls of heavy objects, moving vehicles (lift trucks)
Loose nails, sharp metal or glass objects

10. Specific Examples of Workplace Foot Injures
Injuries:
Cuts or severed feet or toes
Lacerations
Electric shocks
Common Causes:
Chain saws, rotary mowers
Unguarded machinery
Static electricity, contact with sources of electricity

11. Specific Examples of Workplace Foot Injuries
Burns
Common Causes:
Molten metal splashes, chemical splashes, contact with fire, flammable or explosive atmospheres

12. Specific Examples of Workplace Foot Injuries
Sprained or twisted ankles, fractured or broken bones because of slips, trips, or falls
Common Causes:
Slippery floors, littered walkways, incorrect footwear, poor lighting

13. How can foot injuries be prevented ?
The first step in developing a strategy to reduce foot problems is to identify the relevant hazards at the workplace.

14. How Can the Job Design Improve Foot Safety ?
Aching, flat or tired feet are common among workers who spend most of their working time standing.
The most important goal of job design is to avoid fixed positions especially fixed standing positions.

15. How Can the Job Design Improve Foot Safety ?
Job rotation moves workers from one job to another
Job enlargement includes more and different tasks in a workers duties
Rest breaks, frequent short breaks are preferable to fewer long breaks

16. How Can the Workplace Design Improve Foot Safety ?
For standing jobs, an adjustable work surface is best
Work station design should allow the worker room to change body position
A foot rail or footrest enables workers to shift weight from one leg to another
Where possible a worker should be allowed to work sitting or standing at will

17. How Can the Kind of Floor Improve Foot Comfort ?
Where resilient floors are not practical, foot wear with thick, insulating soles and shock absorbing insoles can alleviate discomfort
Anti-fatigue matting

18. What should I Know About Footwear ?
Proper footwear is important, not only for foot comfort but also for one’s general well being. Improper footwear can cause or aggravate existing foot problems.

19. What Should I Know When I Buy Footwear for Work ?
The inner side of the shoe must be straight from the heel to the end of the big toe
The shoe must grip the heel firmly
the forepart must allow freedom of movement for the toes
The shoe must have a fastening across the instep to prevent the foot from slipping when walking

20. What Should I Know When I Buy Footwear for Work ?
Do not expect that footwear which is too tight will stretch with wear
have both feet measured. Feet normally differ in size
Buy shoes to fit the bigger foot
Buy shoes late in the afternoon when feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum size

21. What Should I Know About Protective Footwear ?
The role of Personal Protective Equipment is to minimize exposure to specific occupational hazards, not to eliminate them. Protective Footwear does not guarantee total protection

22. Safety Shoes and Boots
Steel Toe footwear protects your toes from falling objects and from being crushed.
Metatarsal footwear have special guards that run from your ankle to your toes and protect the entire foot

23. Safety Shoes and Boots
Reinforced sole footwear have metal reinforcement that protects your foot from punctures.
Latex/Rubber footwear resists chemicals and provides extra traction on slippery surfaces.

24. Safety Shoes and Boots
PVC footwear protects your feet against moisture and improves traction.
Butyl footwear protects against most ketones, aldehydes, alcohol's, acids, salts, and alkalis.
Vinyl footwear resists solvents, acids, alkalis, salts, water, grease, and blood.

25. Safety Shoes and Boots
Nitrile footwear resists animal fats, oils and chemicals.
Electrostatic Dissipating footwear conducts static electricity to floors that are grounded.
Electrical Hazard footwear are insulated with tough rubber to prevent shocks and burns from electricity.

26. Wearing and Using Safety Footwear
Select and use the right kind of footwear for the job you are going to be performing. Footwear should meet or exceed the standards set by ANSI (ANSI Z )
Avoid footwear made of leather or cloth if you work around acids or caustics. These chemicals quickly eat through the leather or cloth,and can injure your feet.

27. Wearing and Using Safety Footwear
Select footwear that fits.
Inspect your footwear before you use them. Look for holes and cracks that might leak.
Replace footwear that is worn or torn.
After working with chemicals, hose your footwear with water to rinse away any chemicals or dirt before removing your footwear.

28. Wearing and Using Safety Footwear
Avoid borrowing footwear. Footwear is personal protective equipment.
Store footwear in a clean, cool, dry, ventilated area.

29. Remember
Your Feet are one of your greatest assets.
Protect them!