One hundred thousand compression foot injuries occurred in 2016. Average days lost per incident, ten days. Eighty percent of these compression foot injuries were due to non-compliant worker footwear. Falling objects weighing less than thirty pounds resulted is other serious foot injuries.

Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) sets on-the job-safety standards for protective footwear. All protective footwear must meet ASTM safety standards. Failure to comply may result in fines of more than $125,000.00. Injuries to your feet are preventable.

The introduction of steel toe boots dates back to the 1930’s. Steel toe shoes and boots offer the best foot protection. Changes in employment positions brought about changes to footwear protection. Alloy toe vs. steel toe vs. composite toe shoes and boots offer different foot protection.

All safety toe work boots are designed to protect your feet. Alloy toe vs. steel toe vs. composite toe, your work boots are more important than you think.

The History of Toe Protection

Work boots with safety toe developed at the end of World War II in Germany. Safety toes allowed workers to help protect feet in hazardous working conditions. The history of the safety boots dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, workers became aware and concerned with industrial safety issues.

A well-known American footwear manufacturer introduced the steel toe work boot in 1930. Toward the end of World War II (1939-1949), industrial safety became an issue. It was cheaper to replace an injured worker than introducing costly safety measures.

During the 1960s several work boots and a variety of steel toe footwear gained in popularity. The same trend carried forward to the 1980s and 1990s. Safety boots continued to develop, reflecting current fashion trends. Consumers’ expectations continued to change. Manufacturers began to produce safety work boots in a variety of styles.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration developed new standards for workplace safety. Congress passed an Act aimed at ensuring that workers operated in a safe environment. Today, OSHA enforces workplace footwear safety standards.

OSHA requires the use of safety footwear in all places of employment. Safety footwear is mandatory in many industries.

Alloy and composite toe work boots are children of the original steel toe work boot design. Composite and alloy toe work boots use steel as the main reinforcement material. Alloy toe and composite toe work boots use plastics and other materials in safety toes.

Many manufacturers continue to target the safety footwear industry today. Safety toe work boots continue to remain popular in all workplaces.

What to Look for in Protective Footwear

Material

Look for the best protective footwear that matches your employment position.

Steel toe caps maintain a higher level of protection from the forefoot and heel to the toe. Steel toe footwear continues to offer a wider range of styles to meet a wider range of demands. Steel toes provide additional foot protection in casual shoes for men and women. Steel toes are also included in Western-styled footwear.

Alloy toe protection feature a mixture of materials. These materials include Aluminum, titanium, and other lightweight materials. Do not wear alloy toe protection in areas with a high risk of compression foot injuries.

Composite toe materials present a rounder, bulging appearance in the toe area. Composite toe footwear offers less protection vs. steel toe. Composite toe protection tends to weaken after the first impact. No differences remain in steel toe vs. composite toe for electrical hazard protection.

Applications

Alloy toe vs. steel toe offers specialized types of applications. Both types of protective footwear provide impact and compression protection. Steel is a good conductor of heat and cold. Steel toe foot protection tends to expose feet to colder temperature conditions.

Workers subjected to falling objects, molten metal, or working around heavy equipment need safety toe work boots.

Alloy toe shoes or boots are less of a standard in the workplace. Alloy toe footwear is best suited for manufacturing positions. Longer work hours need a lighter protective footwear without reduction in foot protection.

Composite toe footwear is not as strong when compared to steel toe vs. composite toe. Footwear with composite toes is often thicker for increased protection. Style and appearance remain limited.

Composite toe shoes or boots include aluminum, Kevlar, fiberglass, polymers, and plastic. This footwear does not conduct heat or electricity. Electricians, first responder, and law enforcement officers often wear composite toe footwear.

Price

Price is not a factor when considering work boots with safety toe protection. Price is a sign of quality, not manufacturer profits. Steel toe shoes and boots remain the least expensive. Compare alloy toe vs. steel toe vs. composite toe and experience the difference.

Alloy toe footwear with industrial-grade aluminum and titanium are the most expensive. Composite toe footwear remains somewhere in the middle of the price range when comparing alloy toe vs. steel toe. Style and features offered tend to increase the price.

Select the best footwear protection based on the intended use. Select steel toe work boots offer the best protection. Good safety toe work boots are an investment in you.

Ratings of Work Boot Toe Protection

American National Standards Institute conduct random tests on work boot toe protection. Footwear toe protection is based on impact and compression ratings. Standard ratings base between 1/75 and C/75.

Boots rated at 1/75 are capable of withstanding largest impacts of 75 pounds. Boots with ratings of C/75 are capable of handling the greatest number of compression at 2,500 pounds. Check toe protection ratings before purchasing any work boots. Make sure you’re getting the right level of protection when comparing alloy toe vs. steel toe vs. composite toe.

Never assume or take for granted that your feet do not need protection. Failure to wear the proper safety toe boots is an accident looking for a place to happen.

Differences Between Alloy Vs. Steel Vs. Composite Toe Protection

Take a closer look at the differences between work boot safety toe construction. Although similar in style, there remain pros and cons of each type of toe protection that you need to be aware of.

Steel Toe

Pros

Cons

Further Observations:

Force from falling objects does not bend the toe box back cutting off the toes. This myth continues to spread with no evidence to prove such a claim. Steel toe caps have a hollow cylinder with longitude pieces. These work boots are capable of withstanding all major blunt impacts.

Steel toe work boots are available throughout the Internet. Check for discounts and reduce pricing before ordering.

Below are two examples of good steel toe boots from Timberland and Caterpillar. 

Composite Toe

Pros

Cons

Further Observations:

Composite toe boots work well for light to the medium industrial employment position. Boots with composite toe protection are ideal for those who are on their feet for long periods of time. Police officers and the military use composite toe boots.

Here is a couple of best selling composite toe boots from Carhartt and Magnum.

Alloy Toe

Alloy toe footwear continues to gain recognition. Alloy toe footwear is lighter with a more comfortable design. One main disadvantage of the alloy toe design is the higher price. Expect to pay more for footwear with alloy toe protection.

Pros

Cons

Further Observations:

Alloy toe work boots are the most expensive in comparison to Steel Toe vs. Composite Toe. In the case of Alloy Toe vs. Steel Toe, Alloy toe work boots remain lighter. Alloy toe work boots offer increased mobility and less foot fatigue.

Here is a couple of best-selling alloy toe boots from Timberland.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How do you determine when safety toe shoes need replacing?

A. When the toe of a safety shoe has the leather worn off the toe, the shoe needs replacing. The worn-out area on the toe does not affect the foot protection of the shoe. Exposed toe protection will cause the entire shoe to lose the foot protection needed.

It is better to replace these shoes. Look for new shoes with thicker leather on the toe for increased wear. There are also slip-on toe protectors available. These slip-on protectors will help to protect the area that seems to wear out the quickest.

Q. What do the different symbols mean that I see on work boots with safety toes?

A. This is a very good question. These symbols help you to determine a specific safety toe protection. Listed below are a few of the definitions for common workplace needs:

Green triangle:

Sole puncture protection with a Grade 1 toe protective toecap. Uses include heavy industrial workplaces such as construction worksites.

Yellow triangle:

Sole protection with a Grade 2 protective toe cap. Uses include light industrial workplaces where puncture protection is not required.

Yellow rectangle with SD letters:

SD indicates static displacement. Uses include workplaces where static discharge creates an unsafe hazard for workers. Footwear not worn where contact with live electrical conductors can occur.

The Green, Yellow, and Yellow triangle with SD letters are the most common used by workers today.

Q. What does EH stand for in safety toe boots?

A. EH stands for( Electrical Hazard). This protective footwear features electric shock resistance "EH" in the soles and heels. These boots are capable of withstanding an application of 14,000 volts for 1 minute. Electricians or power company employees wear work boots with an EH rating.

Q. How much do steel toe work boots weigh?

A. On average, steel toe work boots weigh 4.5 pounds per pair. Steel toe work boots are the heaviest when comparing work boot weights. Alloy and composite toe work boots are lighter but also more expensive than a steel toe. Steel toe work boots continue to offer the best in foot protection.

Conclusion

There are no excuses for wearing work boots or shoes without toe protection. “They are too expensive” is an excuse that falls on deaf ears. Employee responsibility is taking all work hazards into consideration. Protecting yourself and your employer is taking a responsible position for your actions.

Many large companies offer work boot safety programs at reduced rates. Steel toe work boots remain the most selected. Steel toe work boots offer the best protection under all workplace environments. Alloy and composite toe work boots offer foot protection for less hazardous conditions.

Chose work boots that best fit your job duties. Failure to meet employment standards for foot protection is grounds for dismissal. Alloy Toe vs. Steel Toe vs. Composite Toe is an information guide in selecting the correct work boots.

Differences are part of the decision-making process. Choose the best protective footwear for your employment position and experience the difference.