Anyone in the railroad industry who has had a sprained ankle, a bone spur, or a broken toe knows the inconvenience that comes with a bandaged foot, a cast, or crutches. At work, the right footwear protects against common hazards like heavy objects, compression, sparks, and wet floors, and is an essential part of an employee’s personal protective equipment (PPE).

Safety Toe Options
Often, when you hear work boots, people think of a steel toe boot. And no doubt, you’ll find people wearing this mainstay of footwear on jobsites all over the country. The safety toe cap in these boots is built-in and does a great job of protecting the toes from sudden impact, pressure, and compression. Composite and aluminum toe boots provide the same protection ratings as their steel toe counterparts but offer some other benefits. Both styles are generally lighter in weight, leading to reduced worker fatigue. In addition, composite toe caps don’t conduct heat the way metal toe caps do. This can offer greater comfort in extreme weather conditions. 

Outsoles
Just like the tires on your car provide traction and safety, the outsoles on your footwear do the same thing. Outsoles can significantly contribute to reducing slips and falls. Outsoles on work boots are commonly made of rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and polyurethane (PU) because of their excellent slip-resistant qualities. They are also long-wearing for use on rugged terrain