Foot Protection

Foot ProtectionFoot Protection

Who Needs Foot PPE ?Who Needs Foot PPE ?

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

Causes of Foot ProblemsCauses of Foot Problems

Foot Problems:Foot Problems: Severely aching feet Severely aching feet

blisters, calluses, blisters, calluses, corns, hard flooring, corns, hard flooring, rheumatism, rheumatism, arthritis, arthritis, malformations of malformations of toes, fallen arches toes, fallen arches (flat feet), bunions, (flat feet), bunions, sprainssprains

Common Causes:Common Causes: Long periods of Long periods of

standing, hard standing, hard flooring, and poorly flooring, and poorly fitted footwear:fitted footwear:

high heals, pointed high heals, pointed shoes, lack of arch shoes, lack of arch support, too loose support, too loose or too tight or too tight footwearfootwear

Causes of Foot Problems ?Causes of Foot Problems ?

Foot Problems:Foot Problems: Sweaty feet, Sweaty feet,

fungal infections fungal infections (Athlete’s Foot)(Athlete’s Foot)

Common Causes:Common Causes: Hot and humid Hot and humid

environment, environment, strenuous work, strenuous work, footwear with footwear with synthetic (non-synthetic (non-porous) uppersporous) uppers

How Does the Working How Does the Working Position Contribute to the Position Contribute to the

Foot Problem ?Foot Problem ?

Since the human foot is designed Since the human foot is designed for mobility, maintaining an for mobility, maintaining an upright stance is extremely tiring.upright stance is extremely tiring.

Continuos standing can cause the Continuos standing can cause the joints of the feet to become mis-joints of the feet to become mis-aligned (flat feet) and cause aligned (flat feet) and cause inflammation that can later lead to inflammation that can later lead to rheumatism and arthritis.rheumatism and arthritis.

The Human FootThe Human Foot

Tibia

Cuboid

Calcaneus

Talus

Metatarsals Phalanges

Soleus

Abductor hallucis andflexor hallucis brevis

Extensor digitorum brevis

Extensor digitorum longus andperonaeus tertius

Tendon fromgastrocnemius

Tendon fromperonaeus longus(extends under footto base of 1stmetatarsal)

Peronaeus brevis

How Does the Flooring How Does the Flooring Contribute to the Foot Contribute to the Foot

Problems ?Problems ?

The type of flooring used in the work place The type of flooring used in the work place has an important influence on comfort.has an important influence on comfort.

Hard unyielding floors like concrete are the Hard unyielding floors like concrete are the least comfortable surfaces to work on.least comfortable surfaces to work on.

Working on a hard floor has the impact of a Working on a hard floor has the impact of a hammer, pounding the heel at every step.hammer, pounding the heel at every step.

Slippery floors are hazardous for slips and Slippery floors are hazardous for slips and falls that can result in sprains or broken falls that can result in sprains or broken bones.bones.

How Does the Foot Wear How Does the Foot Wear Contribute to the Foot Contribute to the Foot

Problems?Problems?

Foot wear that fits poorly or is in of Foot wear that fits poorly or is in of repair contributes heavily to foot repair contributes heavily to foot discomfortdiscomfort

Specific Examples of Specific Examples of Workplace Foot InjuriesWorkplace Foot Injuries

Injuries:Injuries: Crushed or Crushed or

broken feet, broken feet, amputation of amputation of toes or feettoes or feet

Punctures of the Punctures of the sole of the footsole of the foot

Common Causes:Common Causes: Feet trapped Feet trapped

between objects or between objects or caught in a crack, caught in a crack, falls of heavy falls of heavy objects, moving objects, moving vehicles (lift trucks)vehicles (lift trucks)

Loose nails, sharp Loose nails, sharp metal or glass metal or glass objectsobjects

Specific Examples of Specific Examples of Workplace Foot InjuresWorkplace Foot Injures

Injuries:Injuries: Cuts or severed Cuts or severed

feet or toesfeet or toes

LacerationsLacerations

Electric shocks Electric shocks

Common Causes:Common Causes: Chain saws, rotary Chain saws, rotary

mowersmowers

Unguarded Unguarded machinerymachinery

Static electricity, Static electricity, contact with sources contact with sources of electricityof electricity


Injuries:Injuries:

BurnsBurns

Common Causes:Common Causes:

Molten metal Molten metal splashes, chemical splashes, chemical splashes, contact splashes, contact with fire, with fire, flammable or flammable or explosive explosive atmospheresatmospheres


Injuries:Injuries:

Sprained or Sprained or twisted ankles, twisted ankles, fractured or fractured or broken bones broken bones because of slips, because of slips, trips, or fallstrips, or falls

Common Causes:Common Causes:

Slippery floors, Slippery floors, littered walkways, littered walkways, incorrect incorrect footwear,footwear, poor poor lightinglighting

How can foot injuries be How can foot injuries be prevented ?prevented ?

The first step in developing a The first step in developing a strategy to reduce foot problems is strategy to reduce foot problems is to identify the relevant hazards at to identify the relevant hazards at the workplace.the workplace.

How Can the Job Design How Can the Job Design Improve Foot Safety ?Improve Foot Safety ?

Aching, flat or tired feet are Aching, flat or tired feet are common among workers who common among workers who spend most of their working time spend most of their working time standing.standing.

The most important goal of job The most important goal of job design is to avoid fixed positions design is to avoid fixed positions especially fixed standing positions.especially fixed standing positions.

How Can the Job Design How Can the Job Design Improve Foot Safety ?Improve Foot Safety ?

Job rotation moves workers from Job rotation moves workers from one job to anotherone job to another

Job enlargement includes more Job enlargement includes more and different tasks in a workers and different tasks in a workers dutiesduties

Rest breaks, frequent short breaks Rest breaks, frequent short breaks are preferable to fewer long breaks are preferable to fewer long breaks

How Can the Workplace How Can the Workplace Design Improve Foot Design Improve Foot

Safety ?Safety ?

For standing jobs, an adjustable work For standing jobs, an adjustable work surface is bestsurface is best

Work station design should allow the Work station design should allow the worker room to change body positionworker room to change body position

A foot rail or footrest enables workers A foot rail or footrest enables workers to shift weight from one leg to anotherto shift weight from one leg to another

Where possible a worker should be Where possible a worker should be allowed to work sitting or standing at allowed to work sitting or standing at willwill

How Can the Kind of Floor How Can the Kind of Floor Improve Foot Comfort ?Improve Foot Comfort ?

Where resilient floors are not Where resilient floors are not practical, foot wear with thick, practical, foot wear with thick, insulating soles and shock insulating soles and shock absorbing insoles can alleviate absorbing insoles can alleviate discomfortdiscomfort

Anti-fatigue mattingAnti-fatigue matting

What should I Know About What should I Know About Footwear ?Footwear ?

Proper footwear is important, not Proper footwear is important, not only for foot comfort but also for only for foot comfort but also for one’s general well being. Improper one’s general well being. Improper footwear can cause or aggravate footwear can cause or aggravate existing foot problems.existing foot problems.

What Should I Know When What Should I Know When I Buy Footwear for Work ?I Buy Footwear for Work ?

The inner side of the shoe must be The inner side of the shoe must be straight from the heel to the end of the straight from the heel to the end of the big toebig toe

The shoe must grip the heel firmlyThe shoe must grip the heel firmly the forepart must allow freedom of the forepart must allow freedom of

movement for the toesmovement for the toes The shoe must have a fastening across The shoe must have a fastening across

the instep to prevent the foot from the instep to prevent the foot from slipping when walkingslipping when walking

What Should I Know When What Should I Know When I Buy Footwear for Work ?I Buy Footwear for Work ?

Do not expect that footwear which Do not expect that footwear which is too tight will stretch with wearis too tight will stretch with wear

have both feet measured. Feet have both feet measured. Feet normally differ in sizenormally differ in size

Buy shoes to fit the bigger footBuy shoes to fit the bigger foot Buy shoes late in the afternoon Buy shoes late in the afternoon

when feet are likely to be swollen to when feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum sizetheir maximum size

What Should I Know About What Should I Know About Protective Footwear ?Protective Footwear ?

The role of Personal Protective The role of Personal Protective Equipment is to minimize exposure Equipment is to minimize exposure to specific occupational hazards, to specific occupational hazards, not to eliminate them. Protective not to eliminate them. Protective Footwear does not guarantee total Footwear does not guarantee total protectionprotection

Safety Shoes and BootsSafety Shoes and Boots

Steel ToeSteel Toe footwear protects your footwear protects your toes from falling objects and from toes from falling objects and from being crushed.being crushed.

MetatarsalMetatarsal footwear have special footwear have special guards that run from your ankle to guards that run from your ankle to your toes and protect the entire footyour toes and protect the entire foot


Reinforced soleReinforced sole footwear have footwear have metal reinforcement that protects metal reinforcement that protects your foot from punctures.your foot from punctures.

Latex/RubberLatex/Rubber footwear resists footwear resists chemicals and provides extra chemicals and provides extra traction on slippery surfaces.traction on slippery surfaces.


PVC PVC footwear protects your feet footwear protects your feet against moisture and improves against moisture and improves traction.traction.

ButylButyl footwear protects against most footwear protects against most ketones, aldehydes, alcohol's, acids, ketones, aldehydes, alcohol's, acids, salts, and alkalis.salts, and alkalis.

VinylVinyl footwear resists solvents, acids, footwear resists solvents, acids, alkalis, salts, water, grease, and blood.alkalis, salts, water, grease, and blood.


Nitrile Nitrile footwear resists animal fats, oils footwear resists animal fats, oils and chemicals.and chemicals.

Electrostatic Dissipating Electrostatic Dissipating footwear footwear conducts static electricity to floors that conducts static electricity to floors that are grounded.are grounded.

Electrical Hazard Electrical Hazard footwear are footwear are insulated with tough rubber to prevent insulated with tough rubber to prevent shocks and burns from electricity.shocks and burns from electricity.

Wearing and Using Safety Wearing and Using Safety FootwearFootwear

Select and use the right kind of footwear Select and use the right kind of footwear for the job you are going to be for the job you are going to be performing. Footwear should meet or performing. Footwear should meet or exceed the standards set by ANSI (ANSI exceed the standards set by ANSI (ANSI Z41-1991)Z41-1991)

Avoid footwear made of leather or cloth Avoid footwear made of leather or cloth if you work around acids or caustics. if you work around acids or caustics. These chemicals quickly eat through the These chemicals quickly eat through the leather or cloth,and can injure your feet.leather or cloth,and can injure your feet.


Select footwear that fits.Select footwear that fits. Inspect your footwear before you use Inspect your footwear before you use

them. Look for holes and cracks that them. Look for holes and cracks that might leak.might leak.

Replace footwear that is worn or torn.Replace footwear that is worn or torn. After working with chemicals, hose your After working with chemicals, hose your

footwear with water to rinse away any footwear with water to rinse away any chemicals or dirt before removing your chemicals or dirt before removing your footwear.footwear.


Avoid borrowing footwear. Avoid borrowing footwear. Footwear isFootwear is personal protective personal protective equipmentequipment..

Store footwear in a clean, cool, Store footwear in a clean, cool, dry, ventilated area.dry, ventilated area.

RememberRemember

Your Feet are one of your greatest Your Feet are one of your greatest assets.assets.

Protect them!Protect them!

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Foot Protection