Are your pedestrians working near forklifts? Teach your employees about dangers in the warehouse. SCHEDULE TRAINING
At ProLift our technicians, equipment sales specialists and safety trainers visit many customer facilities. Each facility has unique guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE), including their steel toe boots requirement. When our interaction requires time on the production floor, the customer may require us to wear protective footwear such as steel toe boots.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that 75% of foot injuries occurred when workers were not in compliance. Approximately 60% of the foot injuries were a result of falling objects and 80% were caused by an object weighing no more than 30 lbs.
Steel Toe Boots Requirement
OSHA 1910.136 outlines occupational foot protection and general requirements. It states “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 static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures.”
The regulation also refers to consensus standards by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and ANSI. All protective footwear must comply with one of these standards. Specifically, steel toe boots must meet guidelines for ASTM F2413-05.
Foot Injury Hazards
Various hazards can cause “danger of foot injuries” that result in crushed/broken bones or puncture/amputation of toes or feet. If your facility faces these challenges or similar scenarios, steel toe boots can help prevent injury.
- Forklifts
- Cuts & punctures (i.e. nails, steel)
- Heavy packages & loads
- Falling & rolling objects
Developing a safety footwear program is ideal for employee awareness and compliance. When selecting or recommending footwear, its comfort, durability and anti-slip protection should be factored into the decision. Poorly designed footwear chosen because of cheaper costs may contribute to employee fatigue and deter buy-in.
Are you concerned about the mix of pedestrians and forklifts causing foot injuries at your facility? Bring awareness to the topic with ProLift’s Pedestrian Awareness Safety Training. This course is designed for pedestrians and operators, helping them to understand how each person contributes to safety in the workplace.
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