Safety footwear is vital in the workplace to protect the feet against heavy objects, fire hazards or dangerous chemicals. They are known to be extremely durable and long-lasting compared to your everyday shoes. However, as with everything, wear and tear occurs and even something as durable as steel toe boots will need replacing after extensive usage. The purpose of this article is to educate on how to identify when a workers’ safety footwear should be replaced and to understand the best ways to care for your safety shoes to ensure they are in the best shape for as long as possible.

Footwear protection can be dated back to the beginning of the 20th century when industrial safety gear first became an issue. It used to be that replacing an injured worker cost much less than implementing safety measures in the workplace.

When thinking about shoes for industrial and construction worksites, the first thing that comes to mind are heavy-duty footwear such as steel toe boots and Goodyear Welted constructed boots. These boots have been designed to protect the feet from hazards and are essential personal protective equipment (PPE) in these workplaces.