foot protection training

Personal Protective Personal Protective EquipmentEquipment

Foot ProtectionFoot Protectionby by

Dan JunkinsDan Junkins

Who Needs Foot PPE ?Who Needs Foot PPE ?

For protection of feet from falling or For protection of feet from falling or rolling objects, sharp objects, molten rolling objects, sharp objects, molten metal, hot surfaces, and wet slippery metal, hot surfaces, and wet slippery surfaces workers should use surfaces workers should use appropriate safety shoes, or boots.appropriate safety 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, arthritis, rheumatism, 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 or support, too loose or too tight footweartoo tight footwear

Causes of Foot Problems ?Causes of Foot Problems ?

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

infections (Athlete’s infections (Athlete’s Foot)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 Position How Does the Working Position Contribute to the Foot Problem ?Contribute to the Foot Problem ?

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

Continuos standing can cause the joints Continuos standing can cause the joints of the feet to become mis-aligned (flat of the feet to become mis-aligned (flat feet) and cause inflammation that can feet) and cause inflammation that can later lead to rheumatism and arthritis.later lead to 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 Contribute to How Does the Flooring Contribute to the Foot Problems ?the Foot 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 Problems?Contribute to the Foot Problems?

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

Specific Examples of Specific Examples of Workplace Foot InjuriesWorkplace Foot Injuries

Injuries:Injuries: Crushed or broken Crushed or broken

feet, amputation of feet, 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 between Feet trapped between

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

Loose nails, sharp Loose nails, sharp metal or glass objectsmetal or glass objects

Specific Examples of Specific Examples of Workplace Foot InjuresWorkplace Foot Injures

Injuries:Injuries: Cuts or severed feet Cuts or severed feet

or toesor toes

LacerationsLacerations

Electric shocks Electric shocks

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

mowersmowers

Unguarded machineryUnguarded machinery

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, flammable with fire, flammable or explosive or explosive atmospheresatmospheres


Injuries:Injuries:

Sprained or twisted Sprained or twisted ankles, fractured or ankles, 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 footwear,incorrect footwear, poor lightingpoor lighting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Job enlargement includes more and Job enlargement includes more and different tasks in a workers dutiesdifferent tasks in a workers duties

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

How Can the Workplace How Can the Workplace Design Improve Foot Safety ?Design Improve Foot 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 to A foot rail or footrest enables workers to shift weight from one leg to anothershift 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 willallowed to work sitting or standing at will

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

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

Anti-fatigue mattingAnti-fatigue matting

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

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

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

The inner side of the shoe must be straight The inner side of the shoe must be straight from the heel to the end of the big toefrom the heel to the end of the big 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 The shoe must have a fastening across the

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

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

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

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

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

feet are likely to be swollen to their feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum sizemaximum 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 to Equipment is to minimize exposure to specific occupational hazards, not to specific occupational hazards, not to eliminate them. Protective Footwear eliminate them. Protective Footwear does not guarantee total protectiondoes not guarantee total protection

Safety Shoes and BootsSafety Shoes and Boots

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

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


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

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


PVC PVC footwear protects your feet against footwear protects your feet against moisture and improves traction.moisture and improves 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 insulated footwear are insulated with tough rubber to prevent shocks and with tough rubber to prevent shocks and burns from electricity.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 performing. for the job you are going to be performing. Footwear should meet or exceed the Footwear should meet or exceed the standards set by ANSI (ANSI Z41-1991)standards set by ANSI (ANSI Z41-1991)

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


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

Look for holes and cracks that might leak.Look for holes and cracks that 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. Footwear isAvoid borrowing footwear. Footwear is personal protective equipmentpersonal protective equipment..

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

RememberRemember

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

Protect them!Protect them!

foot protection training

Entertainment & Humor