Safety Toe Boots and Work Shoes

When people hear of safety toe boots and safety toe work shoes, the first thing that comes to mind is steel toe boots. Technological innovations in recent years have made steel toe boots just one of the many different kinds of protective footwear available on the market today. Safety toe boots and work shoes can be explained as a durable boot or shoe with a reinforced toe area that offers protection against the impact of falling objects and compression. Safety toe boots and shoes now come in many different styles including casual looking sneakers and clogs as well as formal looking dress shoes.

Safety toe boots and shoes are an important tool in the construction industry as well as many other industrial settings. In the United States, safety toe boots and work shoes must meet or exceed the minimum requirements set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection (F2413-05). This standard consists of the minimum requirement designs for the performance, testing and classification of protective footwear. Key features for all safety toe boots and works shoes including steel toe boots must meet the impact resistance and compression resistance requirements for the toe area of the footwear. Additional safety requirements for protective footwear can be met only after the impact and compression requirements have been met.

Impact resistance is rated as I/75 or I/50. This coding identifies the impact rating and compression rating of the protective footwear. There are two units of measurement available for impact rating; 50 or 75 foot pounds. An impact rating of I/75 should be able to withstand 75 pounds dropped from a predetermined height at a designated speed. Compression resistance is rated as C/75 or C/50 and identifies the compression rating of the protective footwear. The two unites of measurement are 50 for 1,7500 pounds and 75 = 2,5000 pounds. A compression rating of C/75 is able to withstand up to 2,5000 pounds before the protective toe cap begins to crush or crack.

Because of new technological advances, there are many different types of safety toe boots and work shoes that are made using different safety toe components that are more suitable for specific work places and conditions. Some people have certain preferences for a toe cap while other toe caps may not be permitted in the work place. Safety toe boots and shoes can have the following type of protective toe cap features: steel toe, composite toe, aluminum toe and carbon composite toe.

• Steel Toe: Steel toes are made of protective steel and tend to be a little heavier compared to boots with other types of safety toe protection.
• Composite Toe: A non-metallic, non-magnetic safety toe designed specifically for work places where steel is not permitted or appropriate. It is lighter in weight than steel toes and does not get as hot in warmer temperatures or as cold in cooler temperatures.
• Aluminum Toe: Weighs considerably less when compared to standard steel toes.
• Carbon Composite Toe: Lightweight carbon fiber construction keeps weight at a minimum while still maintaining protective strength that meets ASTM Standards.

Protective footwear has changed as there has been an increase of technological advances in the footwear industry. But one thing remains constant, protective footwear such as safety toe boots and work shoes are still in high demand. Whether a steel toe boot, a composite toe boot or any other wide work boots, your choice will depend on your work place.