3010 – 13 – When to Use Special Purpose Safety Shoes

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Safety shoes are needed for many different specific environments to keep feet and lower legs safe from hazards. OSHA states three specific types of specialty safety shoes: electrically conductive shoes, electrical hazard safety shoes and foundry shoes.
Electrically conductive shoes protect against static electricity, and are worn in areas were a spark could create fire, like agricultural grain elevators and settings with other dry, airborne materials, and not worn with any socks that produce static.
Electrical hazard safety toe shoes prevent the wearer from making a circuit with the ground They can protect up to 600 volts in dry conditions but if wet or worn out can be at risk for shock.
Foundry shoes are built to protect the wearer’s foot from heat and molten metal and designed to keep metal from lodging into the boot.
All ANSI-approved footwear needs to have some sort of toe protection, but it can vary based on need.