The Performance Requirements For Footwear

In the 1930s, safety in the industrial workplace began to be addressed and the Red Wing Shoe Company began manufacturing a steel toe boot in Germany for workers and officers not serving during the war. After the war, safety continued to take priority and in the 1970s the US Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for employees. The Act included the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to enforce standards relating to worker safety.

The following are the performance requirements for footwear covered in ASTM F2413

Impact and compression resistance does not require the use of steel toe boots, but a protective toe cap must be a permanent part of the shoe or safety boot to protect the foot from falling objects or rolling weights.
Correct safety shoes for women design should cover the toes and the metatarsal area between the ankle and toes.
Prevent electric shock. EH rated footwear will protect the wearer from electric shock when standing for one minute in dry conditions at 18,000 volts, 60 Hz with no current or leakage in excess of 3 milliamperes.
Puncture/penetration resistance requires a permanent plate to be placed between the insole and outsole of the safety shoe to resist penetration by sharp objects such as nails and glass.

Other requirements
Chainsaw cut resistance protects between the toes and the lower leg when operating a chainsaw.
Static dissipation assesses the shoe's ability to safely conduct any built-up static electricity through the sole to the floor.
Insulated shoes are designed to provide insulation in the event of accidental contact with conductors or electrical circuits.
The responsibility for protective footwear lies primarily with the employer, but employees should be informed of their safety footwear options and when they need them. We hope this article has helped to explain the history and reasons for safety footwear and what types of footwear are available.

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