Title: Personal Protective Equipment
1Personal Protective Equipment
- Foot Protection
- by
- Eric Robinson
- Safety Manager
- Interbake Foods Inc.
2Who Needs Foot PPE ?
- For protection of feet from falling or rolling
objects, sharp objects, molten metal, hot
surfaces, and wet slippery surfaces workers
should use appropriate safety shoes, or boots.
3Causes of Foot Problems
- Foot Problems
- Severely aching feet blisters, calluses, corns,
hard flooring, rheumatism, arthritis,
malformations of toes, fallen arches (flat feet),
bunions, sprains
- Common Causes
- Long periods of standing, hard flooring, and
poorly fitted footwear - high heals, pointed shoes, lack of arch support,
too loose or too tight footwear
4Causes of Foot Problems ?
- Foot Problems
- Sweaty feet, fungal infections (Athletes Foot)
- Common Causes
- Hot and humid environment, strenuous work,
footwear with synthetic (non-porous) uppers
5How Does the Working Position Contribute to the
Foot Problem ?
- Since the human foot is designed for mobility,
maintaining an upright stance is extremely
tiring. - Continuos standing can cause the joints of the
feet to become mis-aligned (flat feet) and cause
inflammation that can later lead to rheumatism
and arthritis.
6The Human Foot
7How Does the Flooring Contribute to the Foot
Problems ?
- The type of flooring used in the work place has
an important influence on comfort. - Hard unyielding floors like concrete are the
least comfortable surfaces to work on. - Working on a hard floor has the impact of a
hammer, pounding the heel at every step. - Slippery floors are hazardous for slips and falls
that can result in sprains or broken bones.
8How Does the Foot Wear Contribute to the Foot
Problems?
- Foot wear that fits poorly or is in of repair
contributes heavily to foot discomfort
9Specific Examples of Workplace Foot Injuries
- Injuries
- Crushed or broken feet, amputation of toes or
feet - Punctures of the sole of the foot
- Common Causes
- Feet trapped between objects or caught in a
crack, falls of heavy objects, moving vehicles
(lift trucks) - Loose nails, sharp metal or glass objects
10Specific Examples of Workplace Foot Injures
- Injuries
- Cuts or severed feet or toes
- Lacerations
- Electric shocks
- Common Causes
- Chain saws, rotary mowers
- Unguarded machinery
- Static electricity, contact with sources of
electricity
11Specific Examples of Workplace Foot Injuries
- Common Causes
- Molten metal splashes, chemical splashes,
contact with fire, flammable or explosive
atmospheres
12Specific Examples of Workplace Foot Injuries
- Injuries
- Sprained or twisted ankles, fractured or broken
bones because of slips, trips, or falls
- Common Causes
- Slippery floors, littered walkways, incorrect
footwear, poor lighting
13How can foot injuries be prevented ?
- The first step in developing a strategy to reduce
foot problems is to identify the relevant hazards
at the workplace.
14How Can the Job Design Improve Foot Safety ?
- Aching, flat or tired feet are common among
workers who spend most of their working time
standing. - The most important goal of job design is to avoid
fixed positions especially fixed standing
positions.
15How Can the Job Design Improve Foot Safety ?
- Job rotation moves workers from one job to
another - Job enlargement includes more and different tasks
in a workers duties - Rest breaks, frequent short breaks are preferable
to fewer long breaks
16How Can the Workplace Design Improve Foot Safety ?
- For standing jobs, an adjustable work surface is
best - Work station design should allow the worker room
to change body position - A foot rail or footrest enables workers to shift
weight from one leg to another - Where possible a worker should be allowed to work
sitting or standing at will
17How Can the Kind of Floor Improve Foot Comfort ?
- Where resilient floors are not practical, foot
wear with thick, insulating soles and shock
absorbing insoles can alleviate discomfort - Anti-fatigue matting
18What should I Know About Footwear ?
- Proper footwear is important, not only for foot
comfort but also for ones general well being.
Improper footwear can cause or aggravate existing
foot problems.
19What Should I Know When I Buy Footwear for Work ?
- The inner side of the shoe must be straight from
the heel to the end of the big toe - The shoe must grip the heel firmly
- the forepart must allow freedom of movement for
the toes - The shoe must have a fastening across the instep
to prevent the foot from slipping when walking
20What Should I Know When I Buy Footwear for Work ?
- Do not expect that footwear which is too tight
will stretch with wear - have both feet measured. Feet normally differ in
size - Buy shoes to fit the bigger foot
- Buy shoes late in the afternoon when feet are
likely to be swollen to their maximum size
21What Should I Know About Protective Footwear ?
- The role of Personal Protective Equipment is to
minimize exposure to specific occupational
hazards, not to eliminate them. Protective
Footwear does not guarantee total protection
22Safety Shoes and Boots
- Steel Toe footwear protects your toes from
falling objects and from being crushed. - Metatarsal footwear have special guards that run
from your ankle to your toes and protect the
entire foot
23Safety Shoes and Boots
- Reinforced sole footwear have metal reinforcement
that protects your foot from punctures. - Latex/Rubber footwear resists chemicals and
provides extra traction on slippery surfaces.
24Safety Shoes and Boots
- PVC footwear protects your feet against moisture
and improves traction. - Butyl footwear protects against most ketones,
aldehydes, alcohol's, acids, salts, and alkalis. - Vinyl footwear resists solvents, acids, alkalis,
salts, water, grease, and blood.
25Safety Shoes and Boots
- Nitrile footwear resists animal fats, oils and
chemicals. - Electrostatic Dissipating footwear conducts
static electricity to floors that are grounded. - Electrical Hazard footwear are insulated with
tough rubber to prevent shocks and burns from
electricity.
26Wearing and Using Safety Footwear
- Select and use the right kind of footwear for the
job you are going to be performing. Footwear
should meet or exceed the standards set by ANSI
(ANSI Z41-1991) - Avoid footwear made of leather or cloth if you
work around acids or caustics. These chemicals
quickly eat through the leather or cloth,and can
injure your feet.
27Wearing and Using Safety Footwear
- Select footwear that fits.
- Inspect your footwear before you use them. Look
for holes and cracks that might leak. - Replace footwear that is worn or torn.
- After working with chemicals, hose your footwear
with water to rinse away any chemicals or dirt
before removing your footwear.
28Wearing and Using Safety Footwear
- Avoid borrowing footwear. Footwear is personal
protective equipment. - Store footwear in a clean, cool, dry, ventilated
area.
29Remember
- Your Feet are one of your greatest assets.
- Protect them!