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Do Electrical Hazard Work Boots Have to be Composite Toe?

There seems to be some controversy on whether a safety shoe with a steel toe can meet the ASTM Electrical Hazard Standard.  The answer is, yes it can!  Safety Shoes have had Electrical Hazard Standards for many years, even predating the development of Composite Material Safety Toes, so prior to Composite Toe Safety Shoes, all Electrical Hazard Safety Shoes had Steel Toes.

The Electrical Hazard test checks the ability of a new safety shoe to prevent an electrical charge leaking through the outsole into ground, and the safety toe type has nothing to do with the success or failure of this test.  The Electrical Hazard safety shoes have to be built to hold the charge of 18,000 volts, at 60 Hz, for 1 minute, with no current flow or leakage to exceed 1.0 milli-amperes under dry conditions.  The American Standard (ASTM 2413-11 Section 5.5 and ASTM2412-11) and the Canadian Standard (CSA Z195-09) for Electrical Hazard and/or Electric Shock (as the Canadians call it) were made the same in 2011 when the American Standard was changed effectively to be the same as the Canadian Standard.  Thus this change eliminated the confusion about which standard was the strongest standard.  They are both the same.

The standard does say that no metal may be used in the construction of the sole, but I believe some people think this includes the safety toe.  It does not!  This does mean that the shank of the safety shoe has to be made of a non-metallic material, and neither nails nor screws can be used in the heel or sole construction, unless they are made with non-metallic materials. 

Prior to the onset of Composite Toe safety shoes, all Electrical Hazard safety shoes were steel toe, and today plenty of steel toe, Electrical Hazard safety shoes are available.

So what if the steel toe touches an electrical source.  Well, the sole is still going to protect the wearer because the sole and the sole’s construction are what insulate the shoe and the wearer from being grounded.  So what if the wearer is kneeling down and the steel toe is touch the ground and the person contacts a live electrical source?  The grounding will take place, but the electric current will be grounded through the person’s knee, which is touching ground.  So what if the leather covering the steel toe is exposed; does that have an effect?  No, because the sole and the sole’s construction is still insulating the wearer and the shoes and keeps them from being grounded.  (NOTE:  Any safety toe shoe with the leather worn off of the safety toe and the safety toe showing, should be replaced immediately.)

A couple more notes:  Electrical Hazard safety shoes are only meant to be a secondary source of protection from high voltage environments, never as the primary source of protection.  So, if the Person wearing Electrical Hazard Safety Shoes knows he is going to be in a Hazardous Electrical Environment, all primary means of safety and protection from the Electrical Source should be employed.  Additionally, Electrical Hazard safety shoes are tested in the perfect environment of a laboratory and in NEW CONDITION.  Over time, wearing these shoes makes them less effective protection because the thickness of the sole is reduced and that lessens the soles insulating capabilities.  That happens regardless whether the safety shoe is a steel toe or a composite toe though.  The safety toe material has no effect on the effectiveness of Electrical Hazard Safety Shoes.

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How do you determine when safety toe shoes need to be replaced?

It’s generally accepted that when the toe of a safety shoe has the leather worn off the toe, regardless whether the shoe is Steel Toe, Alloy Toe, or Composite Toe, the safety shoe should be replaced.  It’s kind of like a tires that are worn to the warning tread, or a rope or belt that is getting “frayed”, or safety glasses that has scratched lenses.  In fact, my rule is that if there is any “hole” or crack in exterior leather of the safety boot, then the boot should be replaced because the integrity of the safety boot has been compromised potentially exposing the foot to external environmental conditions and substances.

Safety Shoes are tested for Electrical Hazard properties in a brand new state inside a clean laboratory.  As the boot is worn, the leather and linings harbor more moisture from perspiration, the soles get thinner, and it’s a given that safety shoes are significantly “weaker” the older they get.  So the question is, “how do you determine the point at which shoes need to be replaced?”  It’s certainly a “judgment call”, but typically the most obvious sign is when the safety toe is showing through a hole in the leather of the boot’s toe.  Another sign is when the pattern on the sole is worn down significantly (before it gets slick).  Additionally, if the integrity of the safety shoe is compromised by a crack in the leather at the sole or in the flex area of the front of the boot and this “hole” in the leather directly exposes the foot to the environment, then that shoe should be replaced.  sometimes the leather will show a lot of distress from the environment (welding burn marks, cuts in the leather, etc.) before the leather cracks and when that happens, the shoe should be replaced also.

If concerned that bare steel toe would expose you to a live wire hitting it, that same exposure would be there even with the same boot without the bare steel toe. The leather will still conduct electricity due to the moisture in the leather and linings, and the insulating properties of leather would be minimally better than the bare steel.  Regardless, in my opinion, you should replace safety toe shoes when the leather is worn.

That being said, there are several products on the market that allow you to either glue a reinforcement material to the toe of the boot or “paint” a scuff-resistant material on the toe of the boot to preserve the life of the leather covering the toe of the boot. Sometimes your job or tasks require you to be on your hands and knees, which can prematurely wear the leather off of the safety shoe toe.  When that happens, it’s a sign the shoes need to be replaced even though they are not “worn out”.  These products help prevent prematurely wearing the leather off the safety toe, and this can help you if that is the case with your safety toe shoes.

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Composite Toe vs Steel Toe: A helpful comparison

Composite Toe vs Steel Toe

There are advantages to both composite toe vs steel toe – Composite Toe (also known as “Comp Toe”) safety shoes are lighter weight, but Steel Toes are typically available in more toe styles, which enhance safety shoe styling.

Composite Toes are very popular because they are lightweight, but typically composite toes are more bulbous than the Steel Toe types.  Having said that, Composite Toes are constantly improving and the new Carbon Fiber safety toe is thinner and less bulbous.  The bulbous nature of Composite Toe Shoes is necessary to make them test to the same ASTM standard that Steel Toes do. Because composite materials of Composite Toe Shoes are not quite as strong as the steel used in Steel Toes Shoes, Composite Toes have to be thicker and more bulbous.  This limits the styles that can effectively use Composite Toes, especially for women’s and men’s dress, casual, and athletic styles.  The slimmer profile of women’s safety toes and other stylish men’s shoes like dress shoes and pointed-toe and square-toe western boots.  The bulbous toe shape of the Composite Toe just isn’t conducive to these type styles, yet; however, better materials, like Carbon Fiber materials, can change that in short order.

Another issue with Composite Toe Safety Shoes is that the Composite Toe passes the initial impact and compression ASTM tests, but subsequent impact or compression events to the same Toe are less than adequate.  Apparently, the composite materials tend to weaken significantly after the first tests or first occurrence of a significant impact or compression.  Therefore, it is recommended that Composite Toe Safety Shoes be replaced after an accident or event that causes stress to the Composite Safety Toe.  Note:  The fact is that Composite Toe Safety Shoes many times show little or no signs of damage after a significant event impacting the Composite Toe because Composite materials have much resilience and hide physical damage.  While no signs of damage may be visible, tests show that subsequent impacts to the Composite Toe shoes could be less resistant to impacts and compression.

Many people believe Composite Toe Shoes are best for Electrical Hazard environments, but that is not the case.  And it would seem that having Composite Toes in the Electrical Hazard safety shoes would be safer than Steel Toes; however, Steel Toe Safety Shoes pass the Electrical Hazard ASTM Tests as easily as Composite Toe Safety Shoes.  There is no difference in the safety of Composite Toe and Steel Toe Electrical Hazard Safety Shoes.

Steel and other Alloy materials are stronger than Composite materials so this allows the Steel Toe (and Alloy Toes) in Steel Toe Shoes to be thinner and have a lower profile (less bulbous) than Composite Toe Safety Shoes and still pass the ASTM Safety Toe tests.  This gives Steel Toe Safety Shoes the ability to be nicer looking, lower profile shoes like what is used for pointed-toe and square-toe Western Boots, as well as men’s and women’s dress and casual shoes.

Safety Toes (Steel Toes, Alloy Toes, and Composite Toes) are constantly evolving and getting better.  There is no doubt that the trend is toward Composite Safety Toes, and the new Graphite Fiber Safety Toes (the new age Composite Toe) are going to make even more inroads into the Safety Shoe marketplace.

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Composite Toe Work Boots: A lighter alternative safety toe

Composite Toe Work BootComposite toe work boots are an alternate to a steel toe boot. Composite toes are typically lighter boots, and are undetectable in security environments.

Testing show that the Steel Toe Electrical Hazard (EH) boot pass the ASTM Standard Electrical Hazard (EH) Test just as well and are just as safe as the Composite Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH) boots.

Caterpillar, or CAT, safety footwear offers comfortably designed boots that are perfect for hard working individuals, so you may want to consider one of our more popular composite to work boots, the CAT Composite Toe 8 inch Dynamo Boot.

All our Composite Work Boots can be seen here.

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Electrical Hazard, Steel Toe and Composite Toe Shoe Information

Can Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes have a Steel Toe? And are Composite Safety Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH), Safety Shoes better, or safer than, Steel Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH), Safety Shoes?

Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes can be made with either a Steel Toe, a Composite Toe, or an Aluminum Toe…actually, any type material safety toe is safe, as long as it meets the ASTM safety toe standard.   The safety toe material has nothing to do with the Electrical Hazard (EH) properties of a safety shoe.  The reason is that the safety toe sits on top of the outsole of the shoe, which insulates it from the floor.  The ASTM Standards (ASTM F2412-05 and ASTM F2413-05) that specify the shoe specifications and testing procedures do not require the safety toe to be any particular material.

Very Important to Understand:      Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes are only supposed to be used only as a secondary source of protection in an Electrical Hazard (EH) environment, where employees may be subject to open electrical circuits.  (ASTM F2413-05 Sec. 5.5.4 & Sec 5.5.2)

About the only way that a Steel Toe could be hazardous is if the person wearing them was standing on his toes, which would bring the steel toe in contact with the floor.  If the person is kneeling, his steel toes may be touching the floor; but the knee is touching, too.  An accidental, electrocuting circuit probably would go through the knees into ground since that would be the path of least resistance for the electrical circuit. 

Believe me when I tell you that if the very intelligent researchers, who designed the ASTM tests and specifications for Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes, believed that there was any chance that Steel Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes were not as safe as a Composite Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoe, they would not allow them to be made.  The tests show that the Steel Toe Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes pass the ASTM Standard Electrical Hazard (EH) Test just as well and are just as safe as the Composite Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes.

Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes can be made with any type safety toe as long as the safety shoe passes the Impact and Compression safety toe tests and the Electrical Hazard (EH) test.