Foot protection

Subject

Foot Protection SAFETY 88-1 (Rev. 5/95)

Purpose

To protect the feet of UW Facilities (UWF) employees from injury and to comply with applicable regulations.

Practice

Many UWF employees are subject to state regulations governing construction work, WAC 296-155. Where construction, alteration, demolition, related inspection, and/or maintenance and repair work, including paining and decorating, is performed, substantial footwear, made of leather or equally firm material, shall be worn by employees in any occupation in which there is a danger of injury to the feet through falling or moving objects, or from burning, scalding, cutting, penetration, or like hazard.

UWF employees not covered by WAC 296-155-212 are subject to WAC 296-24-088 that states that workers “shall wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee’s feet are exposed to electrical hazards.” This means steel-toed or composite-toe capped footwear that meets the specifications of ANSI (American National Standard Institute) Standard 2-41-1991.

The regulations define the minimum acceptable footwear. However, employees also are encouraged to use more protective footwear if it seems appropriate for their particular activity. Depending on the degree of hazard and the nature of the work, supervisors may direct any employee to wear strap-ons or steel-toed footwear.

Protective footwear, including steel-toed safety shoes, when required, must be provided at the employees’ expense, maintained in good repair, and worn at all times when on the job. This requirement applies to temporary, part-time, and student workers, as well as to permanent employees. The requirements for protective footwear must be stated on the Personnel Requests, and supervisors must inform prospective employees that this requirement is a condition of employment.

The University will provide safety toe rubber shoes and boots for campus use only for personnel assigned to “wet” jobs such as in waste collection and sewer or concrete work. Roofers applying tar and asphalt will be furnished protective footwear suitable for this purpose. This supplied equipment when worn out will be replaced by the University.

Authorized visitors to UWF shop areas will not be required to wear protective footwear unless deemed necessary by the shop supervisor. If so, strap-on protective footwear will be provided for this purpose.

The attachment lists the classifications covered by this policy and the applicable requirements.

References

• Performance requirements for protective footwear (pdf)
• Substantial footwear (pdf)
• WAC 296-155
• WAC 296-155-212
• WAC 296-24-088
• Operations Manual, D10.4

Responsibility: Action

Footwear requirements

Persons employed in the following Occupations Codes shall wear steel-toed footwear that meets the requirements and specifications in the ANSI Standard for Safety-Toed Footwear, Z-41-1991. (Note: Anyone in the following categories who has a medical exception to wearing steel-toed footwear may be required to wear strap-ons when engaged in operations particularly hazardous to feet.)

Grounds

Required when operating power equipment, inc. rotary mowers and edgers.

• 5110 Grounds Supervisor 2
• 5115 Grounds Supervisor 2
• 5120 Gardener 1
• 5121 Gardener 2
• 5122 Gardener Lead
• 5130 Nursery Worker

General maintenance

Required when engaged in any activity involving heavy equipment or materials.

• 5225 Machinery Mechanic
• 5226 Machinery Master Mechanic
• 5227 Machinery Mechanic Lead
• 5228 Machinery Mechanic Supervisor
• 5242 Maintenance Mechanic 1
• 5143 Maintenance Mechanic 2
• 5244 Maintenance Mechanic Lead
• 5262 Utility Worker Supervisor
• 5263 Utility Worker Lead
• 5264 Utility Worker 1
• 5265 Utility Worker 2
• 5275 Heavy Equipment Operator
• 5276 Heavy Equipment Operator Lead

Trades & crafts

Required when engaged in any activity involving heavy equipment or materials.

• 5325 Blacksmith/Tool Mechanic
• 5382 Machinist
• 5383 Machinist Lead
• 5384 Machinist Supv
• 5388 Mason Trade Trainee
• 5390 Mason/Plasterer
• 5392 Mason/Plasterer Lead
• 5393 Mason/Plasterer Supervisor
• 5394 Mortar & Hodcarrier
• 5396 Motor Equip Mechanic Trade Trainee
• 5397 Motor Equip Mechanic
• 5398 Motor Equip Mechanic Lead
• 5480 Welder/Fabricator
• 5481 Welder/Fabricator Lead

Transportation & stores

Required when moving equipment, heavy supplies, etc.

• 5718 Transportation Helper
• 5720 Truck Driver Lead
• 5724 Truck Driver 1
• 5725 Truck Driver 2
• 5727 Waste Collector
• 5765 Stockroom Attendant 1
• 5766 Stockroom Attendant 2
• 5767 Stockroom Attendant 3

Persons employed in the following Occupation Codes shall wear substantial footwear, made of leather or other equally firm material, that meets the requirements of WAC 296-155-212. At the Supervisor’s discretion - depending on the degree of hazard and the nature of the work - any employee in the following categories may be directed to wear strap-ons or steel-toed footwear.

Custodial

• 5019 Custodian 1
• 5020 Custodian 2
• 5021 Custodian Lead
• 5023 Custodian Supervisor 1
• 5024 Custodian Supervisor 2

Grounds

• 5110 Grounds Supervisor 2
• 5115 Grounds Supervisor 1
• 5120 Gardener 1
• 5121 Gardener 2
• 5122 Gardener Lead
• 5130 Nursery Worker

General maintenance

• 5208 Maintenance Supervisor 1
• 5209 Maintenance Supervisor 2
• 5210 Maintenance Supervisor 3
• 5211 Maintenance & Construction Coordinator A
• 5221 Facilities Operations Maintenance Specialist
• 5225 Machinery Mechanic
• 5226 Machinery Master Mechanic
• 5227 Machinery Mechanic Lead
• 5228 Machinery Mechanic Supervisor
• 5242 Maintenance Mechanic 1
• 5243 Maintenance Mechanic 2
• 5244 Maintenance Mechanic Lead
• 5260 Utilities Maintenance Worker
• 5261 Utilities Maintenance Worker Lead

Trades & crafts

• 5325 Blacksmith/Took Mechanic
• 5328 Carpenter Trade Trainee
• 5329 Carpenter Apprentice
• 5330 Carpenter
• 5331 Carpenter Lead
• 5332 Carpenter Supervisor
• 5333 Control Technician Supervisor
• 5334 Control Technician Trade Trainee
• 5335 Control Technician
• 5336 Control Technician Lead
• 5337 Electrician High Voltage
• 5338 Electrician Trade Trainee
• 5339 Electrician Apprentice
• 5340 Electrician
• 5342 Electrician Lead
• 5343 Electrician Supervisor
• 5345 Elevator Mechanic
• 5346 Elevator Mechanic Lead
• 5347 Floorlayer
• 5354 Glazier Trade Trainee
• 5355 Glazier
• 5356 Glazier Lead
• 5360 Insulation Worker
• 5361 Insulation Worker Lead
• 5382 Machinist
• 5383 Machinist Lead
• 5384 Machinist Supervisor
• 5388 Mason Trade Trainee
• 5390 Mason/Plasterer
• 5392 Mason/Plasterer Lead
• 5393 Mason/Plasterer Supervisor
• 5394 Mortar & Hodcarrier
• 5395 Motor Equipment Service Attendant
• 5399 Motor Equipment Mechanic Supervisor
• 5408 Paint Trade Trainee
• 5409 Painter Apprentice
• 5410 Painter
• 5411 Painter Lead
• 5413 Painter Supervisor
• 5423 Plumber/Pipe/Steamfitter Trade Trainee
• 5425 Plumber/Pipe/Steamfitter
• 5426 Plumber/Pipe/Steamfitter Lead
• 5427 Plumber/Pipe/Steamfitter Supervisor
• 5439 Refrigeration Mechanic Trade Trainee
• 5440 Refrigeration Mechanic
• 5441 Refrigeration Mechanic Lead
• 5442 Refrigeration Mechanic Supervisor
• 5448 Roofer Trade Trainee
• 5450 Roofer
• 5451 Roofer Lead
• 5453 Sheet Metal Mechanic Trade Trainee
• 5454 Sheet Metal Mechanic Apprentice
• 5455 Sheet Metal Mechanic
• 5456 Sheet Metal Mechanic Lead
• 5458 Sheet Metal Mechanic Supervisor
• 5460 Sign Painter
• 5461 Sign Painter Lead
• 5470 Trades Helper
• 5480 Welder/Fabricator
• 5481 Welder/Fabricator Lead
• Power Plant
• 5610 Chief Engineer
• 5611 Assistant Chief Engineer
• 5619 Steam Engineer Trainee
• 5460 Steam Engineer
• 5620 Assistant Steam Engineer
• 5630 Boiler Operator
• 5660 Water & Fuel Analyst

Transportation & stores

• 5715 Transportation Supervisor
• 5720 Truck Driver Lead
• 5724 Truck Driver 1
• 5725 Truck Driver 2
• 5726 Waste Collector
• 5765 Stockroom Attendant 1
• 5766 Stockroom Attendant 2
• 5767 Stockroom Attendant 3