Stay safe this summer with work-appropriate shoes

Warm weather means trading in sweaters and boots for short sleeves and sandals, but make sure your workers’ compensation policyholders let their employees know open-toed shoes may not be safe for work. Proper footwear decreases the risk of workplace injury, whether at a construction site or in an office.

According to the National Floor Safety Institute, improper footwear is a contributing factor to 45 percent of slip, trip and fall accidents in the workplace.

Encourage your policyholders to promote specific, appropriate footwear.

Examples of acceptable footwear could include:

• Tennis shoes
• Loafers with rubber soles
• Work boots
• Dress shoes with straps

Examples of unacceptable footwear would likely include:

• Shoes with open heels
• Slippers
• Flip-flops
• Rubber or plastic shoes

Any shoes or boots that come in contact with hazardous substances should be decontaminated, and all footwear should undergo regular checkups to ensure it provides good support, protection and traction and that there are no rips, holes or damage.

For more information about summer footwear safety, contact your BrickStreet representative.