Safety shoes are essential personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to protect workers from workplace hazards such as falling objects, punctures, electrical risks, and slips. In the United States, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) sets the standards for safety footwear under ASTM F2413.
Key Requirements of ASTM F2413
ASTM F2413 specifies performance criteria for safety footwear, including:
Impact Resistance (I): Measures the shoe’s ability to withstand a 75-pound object dropped from a specified height.
Compression Resistance (C): Tests the footwear’s capacity to handle 2,500 pounds of compression.
Puncture Resistance (PR): Ensures the sole can resist penetration from sharp objects.
Metatarsal Protection (Mt): Guards the metatarsal bones from impacts.
Electrical Hazard Protection (EH): Reduces the risk of electric shock in low-voltage environments.
Static Dissipative (SD) & Conductive (CD) Properties: Controls static electricity in sensitive work environments.
Each safety shoe is labeled with codes (e.g., ASTM F2413-18 I/75 C/75) indicating compliance with specific protections. Employers and workers should verify that footwear meets these standards to ensure optimal safety.
By adhering to ASTM F2413, manufacturers ensure that safety shoes provide reliable protection in hazardous work environments.