However, the lesser-known proverb that says, "If a work shoe's steel toe, steel shank or metatarsal guard is showing, it must be retired immediately" ... well, that one hasn't gained quite as much traction in mainstream America.

Experts say there's good reason that inspecting and cleaning safety shoes isn't always a high priority for many workers. The big reason, according to Arlen Stensrud, vice president, marketing, for Rock Island, Ill.-based Norcross Safety Products/North Safety Products, is human nature.

"You want to get where you're going after work whether it's home or your favorite pub," Stensrud says. "You have other things on your mind other than cleaning off your boots."

We're not pointing fingers or toes. The purpose of this article simply is to raise awareness of two important safety issues: knowing when workers should replace their safety footwear and knowing the best ways to care for safety footwear in order to extend its life as long as possible

If in Doubt, Throw it Out

Choosing the appropriate shoe for the specific demands of the job is essential to ensuring that a safety shoe provides the proper protection. But selecting the correct shoe for the job is only half the battle, experts say. The other half is monitoring safety footwear for signs that the shoe may need to be "retired," as Stensrud puts it...

Continue reading the article at EHS Today...