2006 Foot Protection 29 CFR 1910.136 The foot hazard assessment should be completed before conducting this training so your company s findings, new personal protective equipment (PPE) policies, and recommendations can be discussed in the class. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to conduct a hazard assessment and determine the appropriate PPE for the different types of work that employees are expected to do. This includes an assessment for potential foot injury hazards. Once the hazard assessment has been completed and certified, the employer shall select appropriate foot protection for the hazards and potential hazards identified. In this training session we will discuss the potential foot hazards in your workplace that were identified during the hazard assessment. We will also discuss how you can protect your feet from potential injury. 1
Foot Injury Statistics 180,000 footrelated injuries 400 injuries per day $6,000 per injury 1,509 lost-time injuries According to the National Safety Council, more than 180,000 foot-related injuries occurred in a recent year. That equates to roughly 400 foot-related injury claims per day. The estimated average cost of these injuries was $6,000 each. In a recent year, there were 1,509 foot and toe injuries that were serious enough to require the workers to take time off from work. 2
Goals Foot hazards and footwear features Selection, cleaning, and storage Quiz We will start by discussing potential foot hazards in the workplace as well as different footwear features that will protect against the hazards identified. Next we will discuss foot protection selection as well as comfort, cleaning, storage, and inspection of footwear. Finally, we will wrap up the class with a quiz. 3
Foot Hazard Assessment Falling objects Rolling objects Objects piercing the sole Exposure to electrical hazards OSHA requires the foot hazard assessment, at a minimum, to look for the hazards listed on this slide. This list is not all-inclusive. There may be other foot hazards that are specific to your workplace. Are you exposed to falling objects? Employees who handle heavy metal parts, tools, or equipment might accidentally drop a heavy object on their foot. A falling object could crush your toes or the top of your foot. Are you exposed to rolling objects? Some workplaces expose employees to heavy rolling objects such as large rolls of paper, forklift tires, etc. Rolling objects could crush a worker s foot. Are you exposed to objects that might pierce the sole of your shoe and foot? Objects might include metal chips, nails, screws, or tacks. These workers need to wear shoes that are puncture resistant. Are your feet exposed to live electrical components? Maintenance or electrical workers could be exposed to live electrical wires. If your job requires you to work around live electrical components and conductors, you need nonconductive shoes. 4
Other Foot Hazards Slippery walking surfaces Wet or muddy conditions Hazardous chemicals Cold weather conditions Although not specifically listed by OSHA, your workplace should also be evaluated for these types of hazards. Are you exposed to slippery walking surfaces that may cause you to fall and be injured? Although the injury is not likely to occur to the foot itself, it is still considered a foot hazard because better footwear may prevent that type of incident. Are you exposed to wet or muddy conditions? Do you work with hazardous chemicals that may be subject splashing or other events that could result in hazardous chemicals contacting the feet? Do you work in cold weather conditions and need to protect your feet from the hazard of frostbite? These are the primary types and causes of foot injuries. Can you think of any other potential foot hazards, specific to your workplace, that are not listed on this slide? 5
Falling Objects Steel toe Composite cap Strap-on toe guards Bring an example of a work shoe that has impact or compression protection. Protect your toes from the hazard of falling objects by wearing shoes with steel toes. Some work shoes also have toe caps that are made out of hard composite plastics. These must meet the same protection standards as the steel toe. Composite toe caps are also lighter, which results in a lighter shoe. If you are not normally faced with the hazard of falling objects, you do not need to wear shoes with toe protection. However, if occasionally your job includes tasks that expose you to falling hazards, you may want to put on a strap-on toe guard. These are often made of hard plastic or aluminum. 6
Metatarsal Protection Protection for upper part of the foot Protection from falling and rolling objects Boots with external protection Strap-on metatarsal guards Bring an example of a shoe that has metatarsal protection. The metatarsal is the upper part of the top of your foot, close to the ankle. Toe protection devices, such as steel-toes, do not protect your metatarsal. Your metatarsal needs protection from both falling and rolling objects. Boots are available with metatarsal protection. Strap-on metatarsal guards made of aluminum or high-density plastic are also available. 7
Rolling Objects Ankle support Steel shank in the heel Sides protected by steel shanks Toe and metatarsal protection Bring examples of shoes that protect against rolling objects. If you are exposed to rolling objects, select footwear that has good ankle support. Wear shoes with ankle support when working with materials that could cause a turned or twisted ankle. Ankle protection is needed when working with material- handling aids such as carts, pallet jacks, dollies, or any other item on wheels that could bang into an ankle or catch your heel and cause an injury. Some footwear will have a steel shank in the heel to protect the heel and the Achilles tendon from rolling objects. Footwear may also have steel shanks going up the sides of the ankles to prevent the ankles from being twisted or otherwise damaged by rolling objects. Employees exposed to rolling objects may also require toe and possibly metatarsal protection. 8
Puncture Resistant Prevent penetration by sharp objects Have a hard, dense sole Have steel shank in the sole Bring an example of shoes with puncture-resistant soles. Puncture-resistant shoes help prevent sharp objects such as nails, glass, and metal chips from penetrating the foot, reducing possible puncture wounds. Puncture-resistant soles are made of hard and dense materials. Some work boots have steel shanks in the soles that prevent sharp objects from penetrating to the foot. 9
Slip Resistant Street shoes are not intended for slip resistance Soft rubber soles are slip resistant Sole has tread with channels Still need to walk carefully Bring examples of shoes with slip-resistant soles. Proper footwear can play a large role in preventing slip-related injuries. Remember, street shoes or athletic shoes are not intended to provide slip resistance in the work environment. For example, shoes that provide good traction on a basketball court may not provide good traction in a work environment that is subject to slip hazards from water, oil, or chemicals. Slip-resistant shoes will have soft rubber soles that grip the surface of the floor. However, the soles will not be too soft so that they would wear down quickly. The soles of slip-resistant shoes have treads with channels that carry the water, oil, chemical, or other contaminant out from under the shoe, which will allow the ridges on the sole to come in firm contact with the floor. Remember that wearing slip-resistant shoes does not eliminate the possibility of slipping. You must still recognize slip-related hazards and walk carefully in areas that have wet floors. 10
Electrical Hazards Wear nonconductive shoes Reduce potential electrical shock Exposure to 600 volts or less Bring an example of shoes rated for electrical hazards. If your job requires you to work around live electrical components and conductors, wear nonconductive shoes. Footwear that is labeled nonconductive is designed to reduce the potential for electrical shock. The soles can be exposed to open circuits of 600 volts or less, when in dry conditions. 11
Electro-Static Dissipative Reduce static electricity Conduct charge from body to ground Have low electrical resistance Wear around flammable or explosive materials Wear near sensitive electronic equipment Bring an example of shoes that are electro-static dissipative (ESD). Shoes rated as ESD reduce static electricity. These shoes conduct an electrical charge from the body to the ground. They protect the wearer from electrical hazards due to excessively low electrical resistance. Wear these types of shoes in the presence of flammable or explosive materials. Also wear these shoes when handling sensitive electronic equipment. 12
Conductive Shoes Minimize static electricity Reduce ignition of volatile chemicals Discharge static into grounded floors Should not be worn near electrical hazards Bring examples of shoes that are rated conductive. Conductive shoes are designed to minimize static electricity. They reduce the possibility of igniting volatile chemicals or explosives, such as at gunpowder factories or printing plants. Conductive shoes discharge static electricity from the worker s body into grounded floors. Never wear conductive shoes near electrical hazards. 13
Chemical Resistance Exposure to liquid chemicals, acids, caustics Boot material resistant to specific chemical Made of rubber, PVC, neoprene, vinyl, etc. Contact the boot manufacturer about testing Bring examples of shoes that are chemical resistant. Workers who are exposed to liquid chemicals, acids, or caustic liquids in which they may have to walk through or that could splash onto their feet should wear chemicalresistant boots. Make sure that the boot selected is made of material that will resist the chemical that the employee is exposed to. You must purchase boots made of material that will protect your feet from the specific chemicals that you work with. There is no such thing as a boot material that provides protection from all chemicals. Boots can be made of rubber, PVC, neoprene, vinyl, etc. Check with the boot manufacturer to see if they have done chemical resistance studies for their boots. 14
Wet or Muddy Conditions Boots to keep feet dry Made of PVC or rubber Bring examples of shoes that are waterproof. Workers in wet or muddy conditions should have foot protection to keep their feet dry and in good condition. Basic rain boots made of PVC or rubber will work for the conditions. 15
Cold Weather Use a special insulated liner in: Freezing outdoor conditions Refrigerated environments Bring examples of shoes that are designed for working in cold weather. Employees should have footwear with special insulated liners when working in: Freezing outdoor conditions Refrigerated environments 16
Goals Foot hazards and footwear features Selection, cleaning, and storage Quiz Are there questions regarding assessing the workplace for potential foot hazards as well as the different footwear features that will protect against the hazards identified? Next, we will discuss selecting foot protection as well as comfort, cleaning, storage, and inspection of footwear. Then we ll wrap up this session with a quiz. 17
Capabilities and Limitations ANSI standard Manufacturer s tags No protection unless identified on tag If not sure, check with manufacturer Foot protection shall be designed according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z41-1991, which is the standard that all protective footwear must meet in order to be used in the workplace. Safety footwear manufacturers provide tags and labels that inform workers of the footwear s intended purpose. For example, the tag might tell the worker that the footwear is slip resistant, protects from falling objects, or protects from electrical hazards. Never assume that the shoe will also protect against a hazard that is not specifically identified on a tag. If the hazard is not identified on a tag, the shoe does not protect against that specific hazard. If you are not sure, contact the manufacturer directly and ask if the shoes are OSHArated for the specific hazards found in your work environment. 18
Comfort and Fit Fit and comfort Plantar fasciitis and heel pain Ankle, knee, low back pain Insoles Orthotics Just like your everyday footwear, when selecting work shoes, it is important that they fit properly and are comfortable, especially if you are going to spend 8 to 12 hours a day in them. Lightweight footwear will reduce fatigue. Make sure boots fit snugly around the heel and ankle when laced up. Leave plenty of wiggle room for your toes. Buy work shoes after your work shift when your feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum size. Shoes that do not fit properly could contribute to musculoskeletal disorders such as plantar fasciitis and heel pain from heavy heel impact and chronic stress in the heel area. Ankle, knee, and possible low back pain are also common when there is excessive strain on the weight-bearing skeletal system. All sorts of insoles are available on the market today. Soft, cushion, and gel insoles only provide short-term relief. Because they are soft, these products cannot stabilize the foot and just collapse as the foot and ankle go through their normal range of motion. They do not provide the needed support. Prefabricated over-the-counter orthotics can be purchased for a reasonable price. They support and control the normal collapse of the foot. They can provide the arch support that is needed but might be missing in many types of foot protection. 19
Cleaning Footwear Brush off dust and debris Spray mud off with water Decontaminate chemical shoes Dry before storage Keep your footwear clean. Brush off excessive dust and debris. Spray mud off your work shoes with water. Decontaminate chemical-resistant shoes after each use. Before storing your work shoes, allow them to dry. 20
Storing Footwear Clean before storage Protect from dirt and chemicals Maintain natural shape Clean footwear before storing. Do not leave overnight while still contaminated with oils, chemicals, or other work debris. Store work boots in a location that protects them from dirt and undue exposure to liquid chemicals or chemical vapors. Store them so they can maintain their natural shape to prevent unnecessary damage. Do not just toss them into the bottom of your locker. 21
Inspecting Footwear Inspect before each use Check toe and metatarsal protection Check for holes, tears, cracks Check soles for excessive wear Discard damaged or defective footwear Inspect your foot protection before each use for signs of damage or wear that could inhibit the protection the work shoe is supposed to provide. Check toe and metatarsal protection, as well as other steel shanks, to make sure they are in good condition. Chemical-resistant and waterproof footwear should be checked for holes, tears, or cracks. Soles, especially slip-resistant or puncture-resistant, should be checked daily for excessive wear. Discard damaged or defective footwear. 22
Goals Foot hazards and footwear features Selection, cleaning, and storage Quiz Are there questions regarding how to select footwear that protects from the hazards identified as well as comfort, cleaning, storage, and inspection of your footwear? Now, let s wrap up this training session with a quiz. 23
Summary Conduct a foot hazard assessment of your work area Select footwear with appropriate protective features Check comfort, fit, and support of footwear Clean, store, and inspect footwear 24
Quiz 1. Name two foot hazards that OSHA requires as part of the workplace assessment. 2. Name two other foot hazards that you should look for. 3. What is the name of the bone on top of your foot that needs protection? 4. Name two features of slip-resistant soles. 5. How many volts can nonconductive shoes handle? Remind employees that the quiz is to encourage further discussion and to help you, the trainer, be sure that everyone understands what was discussed. 25
Quiz (cont.) 6. Where are steel shanks located in shoes designed to protect against rolling hazards? 7. Name two materials that chemical-resistant boots can be made of. 8. When shoes do not fit right, how could your body suffer? 9. What should you do before storing your protective footwear? 10. Slip-resistant soles should be inspected for what? 26
Quiz Answers 1. Falling objects, rolling objects, piercing the sole, electrical hazards 2. Slippery surfaces, wet conditions, hazardous chemicals, cold weather 3. Metatarsal 4. Soft rubber, tread with channels 5. 600 volts 27
Quiz Answers (cont.) 6. Heel and on both sides of the ankle 7. Rubber, PVC, neoprene, vinyl 8. Plantar fasciitis or ankle, knee, back pain 9. Make sure it is clean and dry 10. Excessive wear 28