As safety workwear experts and specialist suppliers to the logistics industry, we are asked a wide variety of questions every day by our clients and prospective customers, who rely on our experience and expertise to keep their employees safe, happy and healthy at work.
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For our latest blog, we sat down with iSB Group director Clive Grinnell and asked him for the answers to his top five most asked questions about safety footwear during a typical work week…
Safety footwear: five common FAQs answered
Q: How can I stop the inside of the heels of shoes wearing away so quickly?
Clive: “To begin with, make sure the shoes are the correct fit. If they’re too big, then the feet will move around inside the footwear, which can cause the lining to wear down quickly. Secondly, it might sound obvious, but make sure they are fastened securely. Laces should be tied rather than tucked in, and the overall fit of the shoe should be snug and supportive around the foot. Otherwise, you’ll get the same issue with the foot moving around and wearing down the lining.”
Q: The soles of our safety shoes keep splitting – is this normal?
Clive: “It might happen a lot more than it should but soles splitting on safety footwear is definitely not normal or acceptable. Soles that split or tread that separates from the sole unit indicate the use of low-quality materials and inferior manufacturing methods. When choosing safety footwear, turn it over and flex it as if you were wearing it to reach up high. The tread pattern should span the line of flex to add strength. If there are large areas where it doesn’t, this is a warning sign. Also, look out for bubbles in the tread. This can be a sign of a lower quality manufacturing process.”
Find out more: Read our blog on common problems with safety footwear and how to avoid them.
Q: The toecaps keep coming out of our warehouse workers’ shoes – why is this, and how can we stop it happening?
Clive: “Again, this may be down to low-quality materials and poor manufacturing processes. It could also be the result of improper use. For example, we’ve heard of warehouse operatives kicking the toe caps out of their safety shoes through kicking trolleys around when they should be pushing them. Where operational needs may genuinely shorten the life of footwear, it’s important to consider this before purchasing, and to look for design features to mitigate the impact, such as reinforced toes and scuff protection.”
Q: We invested in comfortable safety trainers for our team, so why after only a few weeks are employees complaining they are hard under foot?
Clive: “Unfortunately, this is a common trap that people fall into. They try on a pair of safety footwear, it feels comfortable, and so they believe it will always stay that way. Sadly, that isn’t necessarily the case. With good quality safety shoes, the bulk of the comfort and rebound that you experience when you walk around is built into the sole unit itself. This is the case with the dual-density soles we recommend for warehouse workers – they are made from a hardwearing material topped with a softer layer that provides comfort. Due to the way in which they are made, the comfort doesn’t change over time – they will be just as comfortable 18 months down the line as they are on day one. Unfortunately, it’s easy to be fooled into thinking a shoe is comfortable by a thick, cushioned insole included to cover up a low-grade sole unit. Although this feels comfortable at first, it will quickly compact with wear. We always recommend people take the insole out of any footwear they are trying and see how comfortable the shoes are to wear without it – this is a good indicator of long-term comfort.”
Q: How much budget should we allow for employees’ safety footwear?
Clive: “When budgeting for safety footwear, don’t focus on price-per-pair; this is a recipe for problems. Instead, look at whole-life costs and focus on purchasing good quality footwear that meets the demands of the worker’s job role and work environment. A lot of companies budget around £30 to £35 per pair of safety shoes or trainers, but end up spending at least double that during any 12-month period due to low durability of a poor quality product. Instead, look to invest between £40 to £60 per pair in high quality footwear from a reputable provider. The best will come with an 18-month warranty, making that 12-month spend more like £33 per employee.”
Thanks Clive, that’s been really informative! Now a question of our own…
Q: Which, in your opinion, is the best safety trainer for warehouse operatives?
-04-30
Whether you're working on a construction site, factory floor, or in a warehouse, safety footwear is a critical line of defense against workplace hazards like falling objects, sharp debris, slips, electrical shock, and extreme temperatures – playing a vital role in preventing injuries and keeping workers safe.
To ensure that safety shoes and boots meet rigorous performance criteria, established standards are in place – and in the U.S., that means following the requirements set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the testing standards developed by ASTM.
These standards not only define the level of protection workers need but also help employers stay compliant with regulations and demonstrate due diligence in their safety programs.
There are many different things a work boot can be tested for – everything from impact and compression to heat resistance. Boots can come with all kinds of different ASTM features, all in which have a different standard, and each feature is designed for a worker doing a different type of job.
In this guide, we’ll break down what OSHA requires, what ASTM-certified footwear actually means, and how to make sure your team is both protected – and compliant.
OSHA requirements for foot protection (29 CFR .136)
We’ve heard the question, “What are OSHA’s regulations on work boots?” a lot – the layman’s answer is that OSHA doesn’t regulate the work boot industry; however, they might direct whether the job requires a particular type of footwear for the job (for example safety toe boots or slip-resistant shoes). Then, ASTM steps in to define what that product is, the standard it needs to pass, and the test that it will perform to pass such a benchmark.
The technical answer is that OSHA’s regulation 29 CFR .136 lays out the legal requirements for foot protection in the workplace.
What OSHA requires:
- Employers must identify and assess hazards that could cause foot injuries.
- If such hazards are present, workers must wear protective footwear.
- Footwear must be constructed to meet specific performance standards, which OSHA defines through third-party consensus standards.
The current go-to for compliance? ASTM F and F.
ASTM footwear standards
ASTM International develops performance-based standards that define how safety footwear is tested and what protections it must offer.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of ppe safety shoes. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
ASTM F & F
ASTM F and ASTM F are both part of the American Society for Testing and Materials' (ASTM) standards for protective footwear, but they serve different purposes.
OSHA recognizes ASTM F as the applicable standard for safety footwear used in U.S. workplaces.
Here’s a breakdown:
ASTM F
This is the test method standard. It outlines how manufacturers must test their products for impact, compression, puncture resistance, etc.
ASTM F
This is the performance standard. It defines the minimum requirements that safety footwear must meet to be considered compliant.
Footwear labeled “ASTM F-18” or “ASTM F-24” has passed these required tests and is approved for workplace use under OSHA regulations.
ASTM F-21
OSHA does NOT recognize ASTM F-21, which is a newer standard specifically developed to test and certify occupational footwear for slip resistance.
Here’s a breakdown:
ASTM F-21
This sets the minimum performance requirements for occupational footwear that is not equipped with safety toe caps, designed to reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls by establishing slip resistance as a measurable, testable feature.
While F focuses on safety toe and puncture resistance, F addresses footwear used in roles where slip resistance is the primary need, not impact protection.
ASTM or OSHA approved?
We’ve heard the question, “How can I tell if work boots are ASTM or OSHA approved?” and the answer is that boots will only be ASTM approved; you will not see an OSHA number on the product. Every ASTM-approved product will have a tag on the tongue of the product.
Work boots must pass impact and compression resistance standards to be ASTM-certified. They may also be tested for puncture resistance, metatarsal protection, static dissipation, electrical hazard resistance, or conductive protection.
Protective standards marked on a boot will include ASTM -11, ASTM -18, or ASTM F-24. More on marking next.
Common ASTM markings and what they mean
Each pair of certified safety shoes or boots includes a label with codes that indicate which hazards it protects against. Here’s how to read them:
- I/75 – Impact resistance (75 ft-lb)
- C/75 – Compression resistance ( lbs)
- EH – Electrical hazard protection
- Mt/75 – Metatarsal protection
- PR – Puncture resistance
- SD – Static dissipative
- Cd – Conductive properties
So, a boot marked “ASTM F-24 M/I/C/EH” means it meets the version of the standard, offers male sizing, and provides impact, compression, and electrical hazard protection.
Quick Comparison: ASTM F vs. ASTM F-21
What employers need to do
If you’re a safety professional or employer, here’s how to stay compliant:
- Conduct a hazard assessment to determine if protective footwear is required.
- Ensure all footwear provided (or required) is ASTM F-compliant and labeled accordingly.
- Train employees on the importance of wearing proper PPE.
- Document everything, from assessments to purchases to training.
Failing to comply with OSHA’s PPE standards can lead to citations, fines, and serious injuries. Remember: Understanding the difference between OSHA’s legal requirements and ASTM’s performance standards is essential for any safety professional. OSHA sets the rules; ASTM defines the quality benchmarks. Together, they create a framework that helps keep workers protected from the ground up.
HexArmor® can help
All of HexArmor’s safety footwear meets ASTM F, with select models meeting ASTM F-21 so that you can wear without worry of non-compliance.
Our safety boots were made to solve problems. We’ve created specialized safety footwear – the first ever by a safety manufacturer – with field-inspired design, out-of-the-box comfort, and our signature Wearability® in every pair – because we know the pros need the best.
Step into our cutting-edge technologies:
- Unmatched durability with MACSOLE™ rubber outsole
- Max shock absorption with i-PUREnrj™ technology
- Temperature control with climazone™
- Natural comfort with bionomx™
Learn more about our safety boot technology here.
Let us know if you have questions or would like to start a trial – our Solution Specialists are ready to work with you. Call 1.877.MY ARMOR or send us a message.
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