Prolonged standing, hard flooring and inappropriate footwear are common working conditions. Are there jobs that are safe for feet? Not really, according to statistics.

There is no workplace where a worker is immune to foot injury. However, the hazards differ according to the workplace and the types of tasks the worker does. The first step in developing a strategy to reduce foot problems is to identify the relevant hazards at the workplace. Such hazards should be assessed in each workplace, no matter how safe or how dangerous it may seem.

Aching, flat or tired feet are common among workers who spend most of their working time standing. The most important goal of job design is to avoid fixed positions especially fixed standing positions. Good job design includes varied tasks requiring changes in body position and using different muscles. Job rotation, job enlargement and teamwork are all ways to make work easier on the feet.

However, redesigning the job alone will not effectively reduce foot problems if it is not combined with the proper design of the workplace.

For standing jobs, an adjustable work surface is the best choice. If the work surface is not adjustable, two solutions include installing a platform to raise the shorter worker or a pedestal to raise the object for a taller worker. Workstation design should allow the worker room to change body position.

A foot-rail or footrest enables the worker to shift weight from one leg to the other. This ability reduces the stress on the lower legs and feet.

Where possible, a worker should be able to work sitting or standing at will. Even when work can only be done while standing, a seat should be provided for resting purposes.

Job and workplace designs also have the potential to increase foot safety in workplaces that are specifically hazardous. Here are some examples:

• Separating mobile equipment from pedestrian traffic and installing safety mirrors and warning signs can decrease the number of accidents that might result in cut or crushed feet or toes;

• Proper guarding of machines such as chain saws or rotary mowers can avoid cuts or severed feet or toes;

• Effective housekeeping reduces the number of accidents at workplaces. For example, loose nails, other sharp objects, and littered walkways are hazards for foot injury;

• Using color contrast and angular lighting to improve depth vision in complicated areas such as stairs, ramps and passageways reduces the hazard of tripping and falling.

Standing or working on a hard, unyielding floor can cause a lot of discomfort. Wood, cork, carpeting, or rubber - anything that provides some flexibility - is gentler on workers’ feet. Where resilient floors are not practical, footwear with thick, insulating soles and shock-absorbing insoles can alleviate discomfort.

Anti-fatigue matting can also be useful wherever workers have to stand or walk. They provide a cushioning which reduces foot fatigue. However, the use of matting requires caution. When installed improperly, it can lead to tripping and slipping accidents.

Special anti-slip flooring or matting can reduce slipping accidents. If installed properly, these mats are useful, but workers may find that their feet burn and feel sore. The non-slip properties of the flooring mat cause their shoes to grab suddenly on the flooring making their feet slide forward inside the shoes.

Friction inside the shoes produces heat that creates soreness and, eventually, calluses. A non-slip resilient insole can reduce this discomfort.

What to Know About Footwear?

Proper footwear is important, not only for foot comfort but also for one’s general well-being. Improper footwear can cause or aggravate existing foot problems. Unfortunately, being fashionable sometimes takes precedence over choosing well-fitting, supportive safety footwear. However, many safety footwear manufacturers produce safety footwear that does look fashionable.

The best way to involve workers in programs to protect their feet is to provide:

• Training and information on the health hazards of wearing improper shoes;

• The principles for selecting proper ones; and

• The simple rules of general foot care. Good footwear should have the following qualities:

• The inner side of the shoe must be straight from the heel to the end of the big toe;

• The shoe must grip the heel firmly;

• The forepart must allow freedom of movement for the toe;

• The shoe must have a fastening across the instep to prevent the foot from slipping when walking;

• The shoe must have a low, wide-based heel; flat shoes are recommended. People buying footwear for work should take the following advice:

• Do not expect that footwear, which is too tight, will stretch with wear;

• Have both feet measured when buying shoes. Feet normally differ in size;

• Buy shoes to fit the bigger foot;

• Buy shoes late in the afternoon when feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum size;

• Ask a doctor’s advice if properly fitting shoes are not available;

• Consider using shock-absorbing insoles where the job requires walking or standing on hard floors.

When selecting footwear, one should remember that tight socks or stockings can cramp the toes as much as poorlyfitted shoes. Wrinkled socks, or socks that are too large or too small, can cause blisters. White wool or cotton socks may be recommended since colored socks cause skin allergies in some people.

In designing strategies to protect foot injury, one has to remember the fundamental principle of occupational health and safety: that occupational hazards should be eliminated at the source. The role of personal protective equipment is to minimize exposure to specific occupational hazards, not to eliminate them. Protective footwear does not guarantee total protection.

In the US, in 2005, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z41 “Personal Protection - Protective Footwear” was replaced by a number of standards from the American Society of Testing Material (ASTM) International Standards which include F2412-05 Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection and F2413-05 Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Foot Protection.

Features of Protective Footwear

A steel toe cap should cover the whole length of the toes from tips to beyond the natural bend of the foot. A soft pad covering the edge of the toecap increases comfort. If the toecap cuts into the foot, either the size or style of the footwear is incorrect.

Soles come in a variety of thicknesses and materials. They need to be chosen according to the hazards and type(s) of flooring in the workplace.

Uppers of protective footwear come in a variety of materials. Selection should take into account the hazards, and individual characteristics of the worker’s foot.

A steel midsole which protects the foot against penetration by sharp objects should be flexible enough to allow the foot to bend. No one type of non-slip footwear can prevent the wearer from slipping on every surface type.

Selection should be made to suit the specific working condition. Working outdoors in cold weather poses a special requirement on selecting the proper footwear. “Normal” protective footwear is not designed for cold weather. “Insulated” footwear gives little temperature protection in the sole for it has no extra insulation there. Loss of heat through steel toe caps (commonly blamed for increased heat loss) is insignificant.

Foot protection against cold weather can be resolved by:

• Insulating the legs by wearing warmers—dancercise” type;

• Wearing insulating overshoes over work footwear;

• Wearing insulating muffs around the ankles and over the top of the footwear.

Foot Care

Feet are subject to a great variety of skin and toenail disorders. Workers can avoid many of them by following simple rules of foot care:

• Wash feet daily with soap, rinse thoroughly and dry, especially between the toes. • Trim toenails straight across and not too short. Do not cut into the corners.

• Wear clean socks or stockings and change them daily. Some feet sweat more than others and are more prone to athlete’s foot. Again, following a few simple guidelines may help:

• Select shoes made of leather or canvas—not synthetic materials;

• Keep several pairs of shoes on hand and rotate shoes daily to allow them to air out;

• For some workers, non-colored woolen or cotton socks may be recommended since dyes may cause or aggravate skin allergies;

• Use foot powder;

• If problems persist, see a doctor or health care specialist.

In cases of persisting ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, fungal infection and more serious conditions such as flat feet and arthritis, see a doctor and follow the doctor’s advice.

To keep feet healthy, it is necessary to compensate for working in a stationary position. One action that can be done frequently on the job is alternately to contract and relax the calf muscles, and flex and straighten ankles and knees. Another bit of advice is to walk whenever practical instead of riding. More information on exercise for feet can be obtained from a foot specialist or from a local fitness center. ❑ Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Safety and Health.