Replacing safety shoes

Selecting the correct safety shoe for the job is only half the battle, Occupational Hazards magazine reports. The other half is monitoring safety footwear for signs that the shoes need to be replaced.

When inspecting safety footwear, shoes with steel toe caps are easiest to check. If the cap is dented and won’t spring back, the shoes should be replaced.

Evidence of physical damage to the toe area of impact and compression-resistant shoes is another sign of the need for replacement.

For waterproof or chemical-resistant footwear, boots should be replaced if there is any separation of the rubber or PVC parts.

Once the tread of a slip-resistant shoe is worn, it should be replaced, because the shoe won’t provide the slip protection it was made for.

Rubber safety shoes can also cut, crack or puncture, which produces leaks. When shoes leak, they can be replaced or patched with a rubber or PVC patch kit.