steel toed boots??

[chickenhawk]

Hey guys,
are other companies requiring steel toed boots at your expense??
they just told us that we have two weeks to buy our own steel toed boots.
I think that is bogus- isnt that considered a safety item??
of course working in the power industry- I would never wear steel around my toes anyway- strickly composite toe for me!!
Thanks,

Chickenhawk.

[old lineman]

Hey guys,
are other companies requiring steel toed boots at your expense??
they just told us that we have two weeks to buy our own steel toed boots.
I think that is bogus- isnt that considered a safety item??
of course working in the power industry- I would never wear steel around my toes anyway- strickly composite toe for me!!
Thanks,

Chickenhawk.

Steel toed boots are required in all of construction. Lineman's safety footwear can be purchased with composite toe protection, true.
If your foot is protected by a steel toe shield and it's against something of another potential you've already messed up.
Your not being careful enough to protect yourself against the second point of contact. The steel is surrounded by leather which offers NO dielectric protection what so ever.
An accidental contact will find a current path around the composite toe guard.
Back to the drawing board.
The Old Lineman

[Patriot]

It's an OSHA rule. Our company abides by it and provides $40 per year, accumulated to 3 years to put towards safety toes.

[42linehand]

Through our Union Hall OSHE is paying up to 100.00 if we purchase steel toe or composite toe EH Boots. I would most definately say that if you are required to purchase steel toe boots that they would be responsible for a portion of it. Last year I went and worked on National Grid Property where we had to have both steel toe and EH and my company that I was working for not my Union Hall Paid half of whatever boots we bought from the local Redwing shop. If I were You I would contact your Union Office.

[wudwlkr]

Safety toed boots are one of the items commonly considered to be personal protective equipment that OSHA does not require the employer to pay for currently. Safety toed boots, like prescription safety glasses, are considered to have personal use off the job site and so OSHA leaves it up to the employer/employee (bargining unit) to negotiate payment for these items. OSHA currently is working on revising the PPE standards to better clarify the payment issue but it has been in the works for quite a few years now.

[Trampbag]

In the late ‘60’s the companies I started with paid ½ the cost of steel toed boots, nothing if the employee decided to wear boots without. I believe it was in the agreement back then to encourage the use of safety toes. I have worked in locations, eastern Canada and the UK where safety boots were supplied. Most oil installations have supplied toed boots and are very particular in replacing them if the steel shows through. Rusty steel or iron striking Aluminium (UK) / Aluminum (US) will spark and cause a source of ignition, so if you are working in a vault where combustible gas could be present be mindful of exposed steel toes.

I have experienced 3 occasions, beyond a shadow of a doubt, where workers feet were saved because of safety toes. I have never experienced where toes were lost because of the steel toes, either from crushing or freezing (I have worked below -40).