Footwear - Assessment Checklist
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Why is it important to assess footwear?
Back to topOccupational health and safety legislation makes it mandatory for employers to assess the workplace and eliminate hazards at the source, and if that is neither possible nor practical, to implement controls to reduce the risk. These controls may include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
When assessing foot hazards, selecting the proper protective footwear adequate to the actual and potential hazards is very important.
From time to time, and as new footwear styles become available and new processes or tasks are introduced, it is important to review your workplace's hazard assessment and safety policies to ensure that workers continue to be protected from any possible hazards.
Is there a difference between a dress code and safety requirements?
Back to topYes, there can be. At minimum, a hazard assessment should be completed to ensure that workers are protected from any actual or potential hazards. In addition, workplaces may choose to require certain styles of footwear, shoes, or clothing for various reasons. These choices may (or may not) be related to safety concerns.
What is an example of a footwear safety checklist?
Back to topThis chart is meant to be a sample only – when conducting your hazard assessment, please modify the following checklist to meet your workplace's specific needs. In all cases, remember to ask yourself "Is this a hazard for my workplace?" and "Will the footwear selected provide protection from this hazard?"
Hazard |
Is this an issue for the workplace/ specific job or task? (Yes / No) |
Is the worker protected by the style of footwear under review? (Yes / No) |
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Is there a risk of punctures, cuts, lacerations, needlesticks, falling objects, or other crush injuries? |
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Slips, trips and falls (does the footwear contribute to this risk?) |
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Is there a risk of ankle injury from strains and sprains? (i.e., is there uneven ground?) |
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Is there a risk of contact with liquids or hot surfaces? |
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Is there risk of contact with bodily fluids or other biohazards? |
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Is there a risk of electrical conduction or shock? |
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Is the shoe comfortable to wear? |
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If there is a risk for foot injury at your workplace, be sure you recommend all employees wear the appropriate footwear.
Please see the OSH Answers on Safety Footwear for more information about footwear and the CSA Z195 "Protective Footwear" standards.
It is also good practice to allow for several styles of footwear to be worn when ever possible to allow for the differences in foot sizes, comfort and individual preferences. The OSH Answers Foot Comfort and Safety at Work has more details.
- Fact sheet confirmed current: 2016-01-08
- Fact sheet last revised: 2021-04-29