A steel-toe boot (also known as a safety boot, steel-capped boot or safety shoe) is a durable boot or shoe that has a protective reinforcement in the toe which protects the foot from falling objects or compression, usually it is combined with a mid sole plate to protect against punctures from below.
Although traditionally made of steel, the reinforcement can also be made of a composite material, a plastic such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or even Aluminum. Steel-toe boots are important in the construction industry and in many industrial settings. Occupational safety and health legislation or insurance requirements may require the use of such boots in some settings, and may mandate certification of such boots and the display of such certification directly on the boots. In Canada, certified boots have a Canadian Standards Association green triangle on them.
Safety footwear now comes in many styles, including sneakers and clogs. Some are quite formal, for supervising engineers who must visit sites where protective footwear is mandatory.
Some brands of steel-toe footwear, particularly Dr. Martens and Grinders, have become fashionable within subcultures such as skinhead, punk, and rivethead. Brands that were previously renowned within the fashion industry also diversified into the safety footwear market, Dunlop and Puma to name a few. But also industrial brands like Caterpillar, Michelin and JCB have given out licenses to produce safety footwear.
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Most safety shoes have symbols on the outside, to indicate the protection the shoe offers. Examples are:
In the United States, the applicable standard for protective footwear is ASTM standards F 2412-05, Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection and ASTMF 2413-05, Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Foot Protection.
OSHA requires compliance of ANSI Z41.1-1991, "American National Standard for Personal Protection-Protective Footwear," if purchased after July 5, 1994.[1]
If purchased before July 5, 1994, ANSI standard "USA Standard for Men's Safety-Toe Footwear," Z41.1-1967.[2]
California has updated its regulations with the new 2005 ASTM standards F 2412-05, Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection and ASTM F 2413-05, Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Foot Protection.[3]
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) have been using symbols on safety footwear for a total of 13.5 years. Each shape & color represents specific safety criteria for all safety footwear and apearal purchased in Canada. (A useful chart is available on-line describing the CSA symbols)
Generally, a safety shoe is a shoe that follows at least one of five criterion. The criteria that a safety shoe adheres to can be found by looking for the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) alphanumerical code found inside the shoe. This code is made up of a combination of 5 different symbols:
The International Organization for Standardization provides the European standard for Safety footwear. The current one is ISO 20345: 2004[4] - previously BS EN 345-1:1993.[5].
The codes applicable to European safety footwear are:
| Protected Area | Type of Protection | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Steel Toe | Basic Impact 200 joules including compression 15,000 newtons | SB |
| 200 joule toecap protection. Closed seat region (fully enclosed heel). Antistatic properties. Energy absorption of seat region. | S1 | |
| 200 joule toecap protection. Closed seat region (fully enclosed heel). Antistatic properties. Energy absorption of seat region. Water penetration and water absorption resistance. | S2 | |
| 200 joule toecap protection. Closed seat region (fully enclosed heel). Antistatic properties. Energy absorption of seat region. Water penetration and water absorption resistance. Sole penetration resistance. Cleated outsole. | S3 | |
| Additional protections | Outsole resistance to hot contact: up to 300 °C | HRO |
| Penetration resistance offered by a steel midsole: 1100 newtons | P | |
| Heel energy absorption: 20 joules | E | |
| Water penetration-resistant uppers | WRU | |
| Electrical resistance | Conductive: Maximum resistance 100 kΩ | O |
| Antistatic: Range of 100 kΩ to 1000 MΩ | A | |
| Hostile environments | Insulation against cold | CI |
| Insulation against heat | HI |
There is also EN ISO 20346:2004 [6] for protective footwear (must comply to basic safety requirements but toe cap impact resistance requirement is lower - 100 Joules) & EN ISO 20347:2004 [7] for Occupational Footwear (must comply to basic safety requirements with anti static and/or slip resistant properties. This standard does not require a protective toe cap)
Safety shoe standards in Asia are :
Steel-toe boots have been used in assaults, such as the attack on Josie Lou Ratley, a Florida teenager.[8] Nightclubs and other entertainment venues frequently include a "no steel toecaps" rule as part of their dress code to mitigate the possibility of serious injury to other patrons if the wearer becomes violent.[9][10][11]
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