The shoes found with the 5,300-year-old ‘Ice Man’ in the Tyrolean Alps were made of skins and braided-bark netting and stuffed with straw and moss. The sandal, a very early form of the shoe, was worn in Egypt, Greece, and Rome. A more ancient example (8000 BC), woven from plant materials, was found in an Oregon (USA) cave. An early form of the boot was also known in Greece and Rome.
Even in prehistoric times, humans rationalised the need to protect their bodies, including the feet. Survival depended on the ability to flee from danger, hunt and gather, and search out shelter. A caveman without the use of his feet would more than likely not live for long.1
Thankfully, today we have many modern conveniences that allow us to live easily and without as much dependence on the fitness of our bodies.
Nonetheless, a lifetime without the use of our feet would be devastating to most. Our feet carry us through a world of activities, and they take a lot of abuse on a day to day basis.
When on the job, there are a number of actions and situations that present hazards for our feet and lower legs and it is important that workers wear the proper foot protection for the job. The range of protective footwear is wide, and there are various requirements and recommendations for almost every industry. From the service industry to construction, selecting the right footwear can make or break the lifelong health of your feet.
Hazard assessment
The first step in footwear selection is to conduct a hazard assessment of the work environment. A hazard assessment is extremely important and should not be overlooked. The type of protective footwear you choose will depend on the hazards to which the worker is exposed.
Hazards to the foot include equipment, electricity, chemicals, sharp objects, and machinery. Exposure to these hazards can result in broken bones, burns, or in extreme cases, amputation and loss of the use of the foot and lower leg.

It is your responsibility as the employer or safety supervisor to conduct a hazard assessment of your site. A hazard assessment is not a one time job. Job sites change, some more frequently than others, such as a construction site, so it is imperative that a hazard assessment is conducted on a regular basis, as well as when alterations are made to the site, such as new equipment or changes in procedures. This periodic reassessment should also include a review of injury and illness records to spot any trends or areas of concern, and to take appropriate corrective action. The suitability of existing PPE, including an evaluation of its condition and age, should be included in the reassessment.
Potential hazards may be physical or health related, and a comprehensive hazard assessment should identify hazards in both categories. Examples of physical hazards include moving objects, fluctuating temperatures, high intensity lighting, rolling or pinching objects, electrical connections, and sharp edges.
Examples of health hazards include over exposure to harmful dusts, chemicals or radiation. The hazard assessment should begin with a walk through survey of the facility to develop a list of potential hazards in the following basic hazard categories:
• Impact
• Penetration
• Compression (roll-over)
• Chemical
• Heat/cold
• Harmful dust
• Light (optical) radiation
• Biologic
In addition to noting the basic layout of the facility and reviewing any history of occupational illnesses or injuries, things to look for during the walk through survey include:
• Sources of electricity
• Sources of motion, such as machines or processes where movement may exist that could result in an impact between personnel and equipment
• Sources of high temperatures that could result in burns, eye injuries or fire
• Types of chemicals used in the workplace
• Sources of harmful dusts
• Sources of light radiation, such as welding, brazing, cutting, furnaces, heat treating or high intensity lights
• The potential for falling or dropping objects
• Sharp objects that could poke, cut, stab or puncture
• Biologic hazards such as blood or other potentially infected material2
On a daily basis, take note of any changes in the work environment. Take note of what is new, what is out of place, and what is different. Something as simple as an odd smell could be the indicator of a new hazard. If you operate multiple work shifts, maintain a reporting system for when you are not on the job that can help you indicate any irregularities. Ask the shift supervisor to note any changes, maintenance or housekeeping that may have occurred during the shift. This can help you determine hazards that arise over time and when an employee may be exposed to a new hazard.
When the walk through is complete, organise and analyse the data so that it may be efficiently used in determining the proper types of PPE required at the worksite. When you understand the hazards, you can make a more educated decision on the type of footwear your workers need to be properly protected.
Examples of situations in which an employee should wear foot and/or leg protection include:
• When heavy objects, such as barrels or tools, have the potential to roll onto or fall on the employee’s feet
• Working with sharp objects, such as nails or spikes, that could pierce the soles or uppers of ordinary shoes
• Exposure to molten metal that might splash on feet or legs
• Working on or around hot, wet or slippery surfaces
• Working when electrical hazards are present