Safety Boots

[Reverend Blair]

One of the guys working on my basement just got a nail through his foot. It's cold out so he's wearing regular boots. I know that the common complaint is that steel toed/shanked boots are too cold in the winter, but now he's sitting in the truck, looking woefully at his bare foot, and his co-workers are ridiculing him.

I've seen this time and again. People wearing running shoes (or sandals) in the summer because it's more comfortable. It the winter they wear running shoes or winter boots without the proper protection. Safety boots are too heavy, too clunky, too hot, too cold, too uncomfortable. Mostly I think they just aren't cool or stylish enough for these guys.

There are winter work boots available. I have two pair. Mine are Kevlar instead of steel, which costs more, but so what? I have one pair of summer boots and one pair of shoes. If you to a good retailer, safety footwear come in a variety of styles. There are insoles specifically designed to make them more comfortable.

No, they aren't cheap, but they are less expensive than sitting in the truck while your buddies make fun of you.

 

[Soundguy]

most of the boots I wear have a steel shank, and at least one has a kevlar bottom. I've been wearing boots for so long they feel normal to me.

sure beats a nail in the foot!

soundguy

 

[firedog]

I always wear steel toed boots while working. I've done it so long it just seems natural.

 

[Soundguy]

better than a hurt foot!

soundguy

 

[Jim in ICT]

I used to know a guy that sold safety shoes. He had a customer come in a complain that his toe box on his boot blew out when a drum of solvent fell over on his foot. My buddy just told him "You walked in here didn't you? The boot did it's job!"

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Sometimes u gotta have a little common sense about it too.

A few years ago I was working @ 90 miles out of Barrow in January. 20-30 below most days, some days colder. We were workin outside 12-16 hour days putting an old rig that had been stripped back together. Everything went fine for a week, only a couple light cases of frostbite on faces, etc. Then the safety police flew in from Prudhoe and shut us down, brought everyone in made us all have to put on steel toes(all were wearing bunny boots) and safety glasses. Later that day we were down 3 guys, one with a mangled hand(couldnt see cause of iced safety glasses) and 2 with frostbit feet so bad they couldn't walk or work and all had to be flown out.
Not disagreeing with you guys but things are not always cut and dry, a guy should be left with some freedom to use some common sense.
Rick

 

[doall]

I just don't think we should be regulated on everything we do, wear, say, or want. I'm with the fisherman, use common sense.

 

[Mace Canute]

Common sense is right. Any one with a thimble full of common sense knows you don't wear boots with steel toes and steel sole plate in the winter, you wear boots that have a metal free safety toe and plate LIKE THESE. Notice the "comfort range" rating of-148F to 20F. That's a bit of an exaggeration IMO, but they are still good in very very cold conditions.

Here's an example from Ontario's OHSA regulations. (I chose them because they were the very first Google hit for OHSA). Note they say nothing about steel toes/plate, just "protective footwear" and the standard it must meet.

23. (1) Every worker shall wear protective footwear at all times when on a project. O. Reg. 213/91, s. 23 (1).

(2) Protective footwear shall be a safety shoe or safety boot,

(a) with a box toe that is adequate to protect the wearer's toes against injury due to impact and is capable of resisting at least 125 joules impact; and

(b) with a sole or insole that is adequate to protect the wearer's feet against injury due to puncture and is capable of resisting a penetration load of 1.2 kilonewtons when tested with a DIN standard pin. O. Reg. 213/91, s. 23 (2).

Here's what they say about eye protection.

24. A worker shall use protection appropriate in the circumstances when there is a risk of eye injury to the worker. O. Reg. 213/91, s. 24.

That doesn't read to mean safety glasses must be worn at all time, just when there is a risk of eye injury and even then all it says is protection appropriate in the circumstances .

There is as much danger in blindly following rules that have been written to cover "all" circumstances as there is in having very few or no rules at all simply because it is virtually impossible to put into writing absolutely every situation that can exist.

 

[Willl]

You watch, he'll get on L+I anyway.

 

[Redneck in training]

Correctly sized work boots are way more comfortable than anything else. That is my experince. My favorite brand is Red Wings. They last forever. I have some 15 years old that are all beat up but still holding together. I still use them for dirty work.

 

[tommu56]

there are alternate to "steel toes"

I look for the composite toe's

t\red wing call's it Tech toe

Red Wing Shoes

tom

 

[Defective]

At this moment, there are three pairs of safety boots in the back of my truck. A new pair of "Ground Effects" boots that I'm not sure I like yet. A six year old pair of "Grebs" for working in messy conditions. And, a pair of rubber safety boots for messier conditions. I'm actually considering purchase of a pair of safety sneakers for indoor work.

All three pair of boots have composite toe & sole. The Grebs & the new ones are both sized such that I can wear wool sock in them. The lace-up boots have gel soles in them & there are two extra sets of gels in the truck.

I tend to do widely varying jobs.

Every job I go out on requires safety boots.

Just makes sense to me...

 

[HiTechTed]

I have some Timberland boots that I bought nearly 10 years ago, that are still holding up. The seams are still intact, no separation of the soles from the boot, etc. They need some cushioned insoles but I have a difficult time being critical of them considering they have paid for themselves over and over again! I think my next ones will be the composite toe, if I ever need another pair of boots again, that is...

Nothing beats a good pair of work boots.

 

[Soundguy]

one of my best pair of workboots is a set of military surplus boots. black leather, water proof, kevlar insole, and safety toe. paid 10$ for them.. as long as I keep polish on them they look new.

soundguy

 

[Cat_Driver]

This is what I wear.
Lawn Grips - Because its your turf.

Working around water a lot mud, wet brass, etc, the way they have rubber up the sides helps. Also the steel toe is a must.

The sole is what they are known for:

LawnGrips footwear makes landscaping, mowing and all other outdoor work safer, easier and more comfortable. Our patented Grip-N-Go outsole provides great traction on freshly cut grass while easily shedding mud and clippings. The protective steel toe keeps your toes safe while the molded rubber overcoat keeps them dry. And with an upper made of double-stitched, water resistant, full-grain leather, LawnGrips are tough and long-lasting.

 

[jonyyuma]

I have on Red wing's Worx--right now. We are required to wear them at work, they will help pay for them. The requirement is for them to be Composite toes, which is not metal. They are not nearly as cold as the steel toe boot I have been wearing.About $85.00 a pair.Btw nails thru the bottom of the foot hurts quite a bit, as I remember being a kid.Jy

 

[Qapla]

I wear steel toed boots from Wal Mart. They work good and fit OK. I put water proofer on them and they shed water nicely.

The main problem I had was, I worked a lot on my knees (yes I wear knee pads) on top of concrete sidewalks (I was doing irrigation work) and the tops of the toes would wear through long before the shoes wore out.

The pair I have now, I took to a shoe repair guy who put a hard rubber type cap on the toes. This stuff does not wear out. The shoes are still serviceable for what I do and there is no where on the toes :thumbsup:

Since I am in Florida, the cold weather is no problem for steel toes.

 

[Jaylegger]

Not enough can be said about these, a pair is even better. Being carbon fiber not only do they eliminate the need for safety boots, your toes never get cold either. The price of admission is rather high though.

 

[Soundguy]

that reminds me of a while back i saw an outfit making shoes out of car tire tread for the bottoms. bet that is some tought stuff!

soundguy

I wear steel toed boots from Wal Mart. They work good and fit OK. I put water proofer on them and they shed water nicely.

The main problem I had was, I worked a lot on my knees (yes I wear knee pads) on top of concrete sidewalks (I was doing irrigation work) and the tops of the toes would wear through long before the shoes wore out.

The pair I have now, I took to a shoe repair guy who put a hard rubber type cap on the toes. This stuff does not wear out. The shoes are still serviceable for what I do and there is no where on the toes :thumbsup:

Since I am in Florida, the cold weather is no problem for steel toes.

 

[Redneck in training]

that reminds me of a while back i saw an outfit making shoes out of car tire tread for the bottoms. bet that is some tought stuff!

soundguy

It originated in Mexico. The brand is called Chaco made in Colorado I think. But they are not made from the tires anymore.