7 Essential Reasons why you should Wear Steel Toe Boots at Work

Are you sure that you’re wearing the correct PPE, including protective footwear for the environment that you’re working in? If not, you need to know why it is so important for you to be wearing steel toe boots in the workplace.

L&A Safety offers reliable PPE, such as work boots, hard hats, safety goggles and so much more - all at prices that everyone can afford! Give us a call on 021 552 0665 or pop into one of our stores in Cape Town, Vredenburg or Robertson.

Here are the 7 essential reasons why you should be wearing steel toe boots at work…

1 – Protects you from falling objects

You never know when something is going to fall from a height and land on your feet, especially if you work at a construction site.

2 – Protects you from punctures & cutting hazards

Stepping on a sharp object can cut through the sole of your shoe and seriously injure your feet, so can dropping something sharp.

3 – Protects you from electrical hazards

Steel toe boots can also prevent electrical injures, such as electrical shocks from standing water and the build-up of static.

4 – Stops you from slipping & falling

Falls are the most common way to injure yourself at work. Make sure the wear the right steel toe boots which will provide grip to prevent slipping, tripping and falling.

5 – Stops you from feeling fatigued

Comfortable and supportive work boots mean your feet will feel happy, and this in turn means that your work day will be a lot better and you’ll feel less fatigued.

6 – Protects you from extreme weather conditions

Protect your feet from the most extreme temperatures as well as keep them dry with a sturdy, comfortable pair of steel toe work boots.

7 – Compulsory in the workplace

A lot of workplaces require the correct PPE to be worn at ALL times, especially in a construction site. Avoid being fired or seriously injured by wearing the correct steel toe boots as well as the correct PPE.

Although it may seem like a mission to wear PPE all the time, it is vital that you do for your own protection. Wearing steel toe boots will protect your feet from the most dangerous hazards as well as keep you comfortable throughout the day.

Composite Toe vs Steel Toe Work Boots

What’s the difference between composite toe and steel toe safety boots? Both are great at protecting your toes from getting crushed or pierced on the job. Specifically, safety toe boots offer two forms of protection: impact resistance and compression resistance.

Both these toe boots have materials wrapped around your toes at the front of your boots, and both offer unique benefits that should be weighed when you’re making a decision.

Composite Toe

Comp toe work boots are quickly replacing steel toe boots as the industry norm. It is made of non-metal materials like Kevlar, carbon fibre, plastic or fiberglass. Some jobs might require you to pass through a metal detector; this makes composite toe boots ideal.

Since these boots do not contain metal, they are more comfortable when working outdoors. This is especially true when working outside in extreme conditions. Metal conducts heat, meaning your feet will get colder in cold climates, and hotter in hot climates. So, it is preferable to have comp boots for outdoor work.

Composite boots are also much lighter, this means you’ll use less energy when walking and the boots will actually feel more comfortable if you are wearing them for a long period of time.

Steel Toe

This boot is a classic for qa reason, for years, steel safety toes have been the old tried and true method for protecting the feet of countless workers on the job. And although comp boots are lighter, steel toe boots offer more flat protection.

That’s right, as far as straight impact and protection goes, steel toes can handle much more. That being said, unless you are working in a very hazardous environment, you’re not likely to be in a situation where your toe boot is at risk of shattering.

However, there is a myth that, if met with a heavy enough object, steel toe boots can chop off your toes! Luckily this is false.

Always be careful on the job and be aware. Composite and steel toe bots do a great job of protecting your feet, but it is best to avoid situations that can result in injury in the first place.

Which safety toe do you think is best for your line of work? Browse through L&A Safety’s wide range of work boot options and pick which one is best for you.