How do they show that a person in fiction is tough? They dress the person in boots. Not the fancy tooled leather of a dime-store cowboy, but really sturdy, practical and substantial boots. Sure, the seasoned Marine sergeant will polish his leather until he can see his reflection in it before showing up at a formal occasion.
Dr. Jones will wear simple but elegant Oxfords when teaching and save the heavy-duty boots for when he has to balance on a rolling boulder. And superhero boots tend to come in bold, neon colors. But boots meant for action are low maintenance, ready to take a beating and will just make working easier.
On the job, you need tough boots that work as hard as you do. You may be wondering; which is better, steel toe or alloy toe? This is a fairly important question. If your job requires you to kneel a lot, you want a reinforced toe. You also want your toes protected in case anything should be dropped on them or if your foot gets caught in something.
What terrain you work in may affect what kind of boot you wear. Are you going to be installing light fixtures in a condo or hauling logs down the side of a mountain? How long you are actually on your feet and whether you might need to suddenly put on speed will affect what type of boot you need. So which type of toe is best?
Alloy Toe Boots
Alloy toes are very likely the most popular safety toe available on the market by and large. In recent years, alloy toe safety boots have been obtaining quite the steadfast following. They are constructed from lightweight materials such as aluminum and titanium.
However, they are as strong as steel. While they are every bit as strong and durable as steel, the only thing that differentiates them from steel toe boots is in the materials and components utilized in construction.
Alloy toes are fabricated from lightweight materials such as titanium, aluminum or an amalgamation of other light materials such as magnesium, chromium silicon, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, and titanium. Hence, the name alloy toe. They are lighter than steel but bulkier
On the plus side, alloy toes are thirty to fifty percent lighter than steel. They come a bit thinner, meaning you get some very ample room in that toe box. These boots are for the worker who needs to stay agile on the job.
On the downside, they can run a bit more pricey in many circumstances, but it evens out in the long run for the comfort and safety level provided.
They have a tendency to set off metal detectors. If you visit a prison, courthouse, museum popular with conspiracy theorists or go on an airplane, that may prove to be an inconvenience. What’s more, they’re often just not as strong as steel toes.
Steel Toe Boots
The classic work boot by far is the steel toe work boot. The toe box in a steel toe boot is fabricated out of intensive steel to guard your feet from injuries caused by crushing and falling objects. It is made with a hardened steel toe cap built right into the boot’s toe compartment.
The steel toe boots are among the sturdiest of shoes that offer dependable reinforcement in the toe. While these shoes are being put together in the factory, a hardened steel toe cap is included in the toe compartment of the work boots to make extra protection of your legs and feet easier.
Typically, the steel toe safety caps are specially formed to protect your foot from compression, falling objects or other obstacles in the pathway. It must be remembered that many manufacturers also merge them with a heavy-duty midsole plate that guards your under sole from beneath.
On the plus side, these boots have a tendency to be on the less expensive side. You get the utmost protection from falling objects and dangerous equipment such as chainsaws, lawnmowers, edgers, and grinders. This is a toe that is strong and fairly ubiquitous, so it will be easy to find a pair.
On the downside, they are rather heavy. They may prove uncomfortable as they have a smaller toe box. Like the alloy toe, they also set off metal detectors. They can be dented. The ability to conduct electricity makes them unlikely candidates for wearing around live wires.
How Do These Two Compare?
It may well occur to you just how alloy toes measure up against tried and true steel. After all, why should you opt for alloy if it provides nearly the same protection as steel safety toes? In the first place, alloy safety boots are thirty to fifty percent lighter than steel toes.
What this means is that you can shift about freely with not so much weight burdened to your feet. What’s more, materials such as titanium tend to be a lot thinner than steel. This ultimately means much more comfort for the wearer due to an appreciable amount of room in the toes.
Keep in mind that alloy safety boots will almost certainly cost more than steel toes. They too have an annoying tendency to set off the metal detector at an airport or workplace that requires a high degree of security. Prepare to see the wands being taken out. (Most airports these days will ask you to take your shoes off for inspection anyway.)
Steel, on the other hand, can also provide crucially vital benefits as opposed to the alloy toe. To start with, they are not as expensive as many other types of safety shoes. This alone makes them a very common choice for most people.
In regards to straight impact protection resistance plus shear resistance from many different types of heavy machinery, steel safety toes provide the most protection compared to the thinner alloy.
As a matter of fact, many steel toe boots may not only meet but exceed ASTM safety standards. However, it should be recalled that they are considerably heavier than alloy boots. This can lead to discomfort because of the smaller toe box.
Whether you choose the steel toe or the alloy toe, you should know that whichever one you opt for, each and every safety toe cap is required to pass ANSI, ASTM, and OSHA safety standards in order to guarantee that they meet regulations for safety.
See to it that your pair has endured all of the proper product testings and has legitimately been certified as a safety toe work boot. Always keep in mind that it is not about which boot can do it best, it’s all about locating the proper match for your job requirements as well as the environment.
An Argument For Steel
Even though alloy safety toe caps have a reputation for being every bit as strong as steel toes, this assertion is not wholly accurate. If you are on the lookout for superior protection for your feet against such dangers as heavy compression or savagely hard impacts, then you are best advised to go for steel safety toes.
Many of these hardy things are so resilient that they exceed ASTM safety ratings far more than what’s expected. It is true that alloy boots can stand up to the task when they are needed the most. However, they simply cannot compare with a tried true, tempered and thick steel safety toe cap.
An Argument For Alloy
We must not forget that there are incidents where the job requires more than just an unwieldy, tight and unyielding shell. Many if not most workers move about while on the job and would rather have something light and comfortable on their feet all day.
Due to their lightweight manufacture, alloy safety toe work boots have a tendency to be lighter and simpler to just step off the ground in. The thinner make of the alloy materials leads to ample wiggle room in the toe box for comfort that lasts the entire day.
So, Which One To Choose?
Understandably, you may still have trouble deciding which one to go for. If you’ve come this far and are still dithering, here are some questions you should ask yourself. In the end, it all hinges on budget, occupation and work conditions.
- What types of risks am I usually exposed to on the job? Are you often exposed to such dangers as falling or rolling heavy objects and machinery? Do you work with spinning blades? Do you sometimes lose your temper and kick a vehicle or machine? Steel toe is best for working with heavy machinery.
- Do I walk or stand a lot? If most of your job requires standing, walking or climbing stairs or ladders you might prefer the lighter alloy toe. A light alloy toe is best for when you have to pick them up and put them down quickly. Steel toes, in this case, will just leave your feet feeling tired.
- What other types of protection will I be needing? You need to think about those metatarsals as much as those toes. You may also need to think about something that will guard against slips and trips. If you need electrical hazard wear, that is yet one more needful consideration.
- What is the usual temperature at the job site? Will you be in standing water most of the day or are you like a cat on a hot tin roof? If you experience extremes in cold or heat on the job, then your choice here is neither. You can take the third option of the composite toe boot.
Some Words About the Composite Toe
The composite toe is also known as the non-metallic toe, or NMT for short. They are very modern, composed of such materials as plastic, carbon fiber and rubber. They do not conduct cold or heat towards the foot.
They do not conduct electricity either. These are able to pass through a metal detector but do remember that you may have a steel shank in your boot which definitely would not pass unnoticed through a metal detector.
In the past ten years or so, composite toe boots have experienced a surge in popularity because of their lightweight modeling and ability to provide comfort for workers who spend long periods outside. In the safety shoe industry, composite toe caps are frequently crafted as an amalgamation of non-metal materials such as Kevlar, carbon fiber, plastic, or fiberglass.
The most important thing to remember about composite toes is that they meet all of the same CSA safety requirements that a steel toe would. On the upside, a composite toe is lighter in weight, causing the boots to be much more comfortable to wear for a very long period of time.
You will not have to worry about weather conditions with the composite toe as it will not conduct cold or heat. Because there is no metal in this toe the boot is well insulated and there is no risk of creating sparks. However, they do tend to be rather bulky. They also do not stand up to impacts quite as well as the steel toe.
A Myth Busted
There is a common urban legend about a worker who while wearing steel toe boots dropped something heavy on his foot causing the toe cap to break and his toes to be amputated in one fell swoop. Rest assured, this legend has no basis in fact.
To get that steel toe certification the steel must not curl or break under any circumstances. Even blades must be turned away. Even a direct blow from an axe does not do more than a dent. The steel toes are far better protection than none at all.
What Kind of Safety Do Your Boots Offer?
Look for a triangle or quadrangle on your boots. (American boots may often use squares where Canadian boots may often use rectangles.) The shape and color branded on your boots will tell you exactly what kind of protection these boots offer.
This is definitely a case of different strokes for different folks. In any case, wearing safety gear is of utmost importance. It can mean the difference between walking (or at least limping) away from an incident or not walking at all.
- Green Triangle This indicates a class one safety shoe with a puncture-resistant toe. This is good for work in construction areas and any place that may have sharp objects.
- Yellow Triangle This indicates a class two safety shoe with a puncture-resistant toe. It is much like the above but better suited for light industrial workplaces.
- White Quadrangle Marked with an Omega This symbol means the boots are resistant to an electrical charge. They are safe to wear in environments where you want to be guarded against electrical shock.
- Yellow Quadrangle This symbol means that the boots provide anti-static protection. The boot is able to dissipate electrostatic charges, rendering them harmless.
- Red Quadrangle This indicates that the boots are electrically conductive. This means the boots are suitable for workplaces where low-power electrical charges can be a danger.
- Blue Quadrangle This symbol is only found on Canadian boots. It indicates that the boot is grade one protective toe only.
- Fir Tree A green symbol shaped like a pine tree is a sign that this boot is chainsaw resistant. This would make it the preferred boot for those who want to be a lumberjack. And that’s OK!
What OSHA Has to Say About Safety Boots
Ah, OSHA, where would we be without you? Probably either in the courthouse suing someone or in the hospital, that’s where. Here’s a fun prank to play on your employees. Give them something goofy looking to wear (e.g. clown nose, Winger T-shirt, cat ears) and say “OSHA says you have to wear it.” See how far it is before they draw the line. But on a serious note, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has some pretty stringent rules about footwear.
Footwear is a subject mentioned in the Personal Protective Equipment sector of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards. The part about foot protection sheds light on issues that are most relevant to employers whether they be in the construction, industrial, government or service fields.
Refusal to adhere to OSHA regulations leaves one at risk for warnings, sanctions, and fines. While particular citations can be kept at a low rate of a few thousand dollars, it is crucial to point out that OSHA increased their maximum penalties at the beginning of 2018 to $12,600 for “serious” plus “other-than-serious” violations.
Additionally, $12,934 may be tacked on for each day of “failure-to-abate” violations. What’s more, “willful” and “repeat” violations may now be worth a maximum fine of $129,336. So, wearing safety boots not only protects your toes but your wallet as well!
Conclusion
Whether you go for alloy, steel or even composite toe, it is important that you wear your safety boots to prevent damage to your feet. The type of toe you select will largely vary on what kind of work you do. Do you prize strength or agility on your job? This is ultimately a case of different strokes for different folks. In any case, it can mean the difference between walking (or at least limping) away from an incident or not walking at all.
Work Boots Safety Standards by Aboutboot.com
