Working feet can be exposed to many dangers. Accidents and injuries in the work place from un-protected feet can affect your performance in the work place and can prevent you from leading an active lifestyle. On a more serious note, foot related injuries can lead to a potential loss of earnings and employment, and can continue to affect your daily abilities for the rest of your life.

Throughout 2010, the Health and Safety Executive had a campaign to reduce slips, trips and falls by 30% in the workplace. Health and Safety legislation includes footwear in the workplace. The basic requirement is that all reasonable efforts are made by your employer to eliminate or reduce the likelihood of injury occurring in the first place.

To decide whether an employee needs safety or protective footwear, a risk assessment is carried out. Your employer may need to issue safety or protective footwear to reduce the risk of injury. Although not always fashionable, you must accept safety or protective footwear as part of your work attire. Some companies may pay for your footwear or you may be asked to purchase your own shoes and the company will the reimburse part of the cost. Either way, you must wear shoes which adhere to your companies health and safety regulations. You must remember that all Health and Safety Regulations are in place to protect you.

There is often a misconception that safety shoes will be very uncomfortable but you may well be surprised. Shoes with steel toecaps are often padded and if they fit correctly you should not even feel the toecaps. The fit of your safety shoe is paramount, as with all shoes. Footwear that does not fit properly can cause life-long foot problems.

What to look for when choosing safety shoes

• Upper – Made from leather or a breathable man-made fabric.
• Lining – Breathable material to keep the foot frash.
• Toe Area – Foot shaped and there must be room to wiggle your toes. If the shoes have a toecap, ensure that they are padded you cannot feel the toecaps.
• Insole – Preferable removable to allow insertion of padding or orthotic insoles
• Heel – No higher than 4cm but if you are on your feet for long stretches no higher than 2cm.
• Sole – Strong and flexible made from rubber or PVC to prevent slippage
• Fastenings – Laces, buckles or Velcro help to secure the foot.

Employer and employee’s duties

Health and safety legislation includes workplace footwear:

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The general duty:

• section 2 outlines the need of the employer to provide a safe working environment
• section 7 outlines the general duties of employees at work to take reasonable care of his own health and safety and co-operate with his employer to enable him to discharge his legal duties.

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended)

Personal Protective Equipment (including special workplace footwear) must be:

• provided where risks have been identified and cannot be controlled in any other way;
• properly assessed before use to ensure that it is suitable;
• maintained and stored properly;
• provided with instructions on how to use it safely;
• used correctly by employees.

The Management of Health and Safety at Works Regulations 1999

This requires that:

• a ‘suitable and sufficient’ assessment of the risk to the health and safety of persons at work and of those not in his employment be made.
• a hierarchy of risks is set out.