Many workers face problems with their feet or legs because of the wrong footwear or

because they are forced to stand for too long. Feet bear the brunt of the daily working

life. Prolonged standing, badly fitting footwear, high heels, slippery surfaces and falling

objects are just some of the dangers to which we expose our feet in the workplace.

It is estimated that around 80 per cent of the adult population has some form of foot

problem. This can vary from aches and pains, swelling and corns to fungal infections and

varicose veins. While not all of these are a result of work activities, a large proportion are.

Our feet are exposed to many dangers at work and, like every other danger, the risk can be

avoided or removed if employers take simple straightforward steps to protect their workers.

The biggest risk probably comes from slips and trips. This can be caused by

inappropriate footwear but often the problem is not just with the footwear but the actual

surface. Employers should make sure that floors are kept clean and dry and, where that

is not possible, special flooring may need to be installed.

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Employers’ Duties

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The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 makes it quite clear that the employer has to

provide a safe working environment. In addition, the Management of Health and Safety

at Work Regulations 1999 also require employers to conduct a suitable and sufficient risk

assessment on the health and safety of their workers. If any risks are found then they must

be removed or reduced.

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The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1999 also say that, if a risk has been

identified and cannot be controlled any other way, then protective equipment must be provided.

This includes footwear. If an employer provides protective equipment, such as footwear, then it

must be provided free of charge and there must be instructions on how to use it safely.

A lot of problems are caused by inadequate footwear. Work in any environment where there is

a risk of slipping requires slip-resistant shoes. Where there is the risk of a shoe being crushed or

hit by an object, or even caught in machinery, safety footwear must be provided. If there is the

possibility of standing on nails or other sharp objects then the employer must provide puncture-

resistant soles.

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Choosing footwear

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Workers should be able to wear the footwear that is appropriate to their occupation, working

environment, and feet. That means employers should ensure that the risk assessment they have

to do by law includes risks to the feet as well as slipping risks, and if safety or special footwear

is required they must supply it at no cost to the worker.

Wherever special footwear is provided the employer must make sure that it fits properly and

should allow the toes wiggle room (around 1cm gap between the longest toe and the end of the

shoe). There should also be a choice of shoes and worker representatives should be involved in

choosing which ones are offered. This will help ensure that workers wear them.