Types of Safety Shoes: How to Select the Right One?
Last Updated on September 5, 2024 by IB-ADMIN
Safety shoes are one of the most important parts of safety gear to prevent foot injuries. Businesses with work environments where workers are dealing with risky things need these shoes to prevent accidents. Safety shoes are not just for safety; they boost confidence in tough working conditions.
Types of Safety Shoes
There are different types of safety shoes available in the market. Below, we have mentioned 12 types along with their pros and cons.
- Steel-Toe Safety Shoes
- Composite Toe Footwear
- Metatarsal Guards
- Electrical Hazard (EH) Rated Shoes
- Slip-Resistant Footwear
- Chemical-Resistant Shoes
- Industrial Safety Shoes
- Sport Safety Shoes
- Heat Resistant Safety Boots
- Lightweight Work Boots
- Wellingtons/PVC Boots/Gumboots
- Fibre Toe Safety Shoes
1. Steel-Toe Safety Shoes
These shoes have steel mounted in the toe area. They help protect against severe injuries while working. They are durable and the most commonly used shoes.
Features
- The reinforced steel cap protects from major injuries.
- It can withstand harsh conditions.
Suitability
- Steel-toe boots are suitable for large-scale industrial operations in manufacturing and construction industries.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Excellent protection to the foot | ❌ It is heavy and does not provide optimal comfort. |
| ✅ Good for tough environmental conditions | ❌ Sensitive to metal detectors, may conduct electricity. |
2. Composite Toe Footwear
The toe cap of composite shoes are made of carbon fibre or plastic. These shoes are a good alternative for steel toe cap shoes as they provide electrical insulation as well. They are also lightweight and durable.
Features
- Toe cap is designed with non-metallic materials.
- It is lighter, non-conductive and comfortable to wear.
Suitability
- It is suitable for wear in electrical work and small-scale industrial work.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Being lightweight, it reduces strain on the foot. | ❌ It offers less protection than steel-toe boots |
| ✅ It is safe to wear in electrical environments. | ❌ The cost of composite shoes is higher. |
3. Metatarsal Guards
These shoes provide protection to the midfoot region. As the name suggests, they offer safety to injuries occurring on the upper region of the foot. They are used in work environments involving heavy machinery.
Features
- It provides extended protection to the entire top of the foot
- It is highly durable
- It provides good shock-absorbing protection.
Suitability
- It can be used in various industries that require heavy machinery.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Comprehensive protection to toe and upper foot. | ❌ It can be bulky and uncomfortable. |
| ✅ High impact resistance towards heavy objects and machinery. | ❌ It can restrict movement of the foot. |
4. Electric Hazard (EH) Rated Shoes
These are specifically designed to withstand electrical shock by absorbing electrical energy. Electric Hazard (EH) shoes provide protection in work environments that involve working with electronic components where a shock or short circuit is possible.
Features
- It comes with an insulating material to prevent electrical shocks.
- It comes in various designs.
Suitability
- These types of safety shoes are suitable for electrical work environments.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Provide protection against electric hazards. | ❌ These shoes do not offer versatile application |
| ✅ The non-metallic protection is undetectable through metal detectors | ❌ These are less durability |
5. Slip-Resistant Footwear
Anti-slip shoes are best for industries where the work environment involves wet and slippery surfaces. These may include agriculture, oil, & pharmaceutical industries. These shoes offer anti-slip property preventing slips and falls leading to major injuries.
Features
- It has specialised tread patterns to enhance traction on slippery surfaces.
- It provides resistance to slip-on oil and water.
- It comes with cushioned soles and ergonomic designs
Suitability
- Suitable for chemical, oil, and pharmaceutical industries.
- Suitable for hospitals, cleaning services and restaurants.
| Pro | Cons |
| ✅ It provides enhanced traction on slippery surfaces. | ❌ Its soles may wear down with time and cause lesser impact traction |
| ✅ It is comfortable for long shifts. | ❌ Its effectiveness may depend on the type of surface |
6. Chemical-Resistant Shoes
These shoes are made to provide safety against chemical spills. Industries that work with dangerous chemicals and acids must employ these safety shoes as a mandatory part of safety gear.
Features
- It is made with specialised materials to handle harsh chemicals and liquids.
- It is made from rubber, PVC material or non-porous material to prevent adsorption of harsh substances.
Suitability
- These shoes are suitable for the chemical, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and other industries.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Provides protection against hazardous chemicals. | ❌ Due to non-porous materials, these shoes are less breathable. |
| ✅ These safety shoes are durable and can withstand wear and tear. | ❌ These shoes do not offer versatile use. |
7. Industrial Safety Shoes
These types of safety shoes are used in large-scale manufacturing and construction industries. These shoes provide durability and higher impact resistance. Industrial safety shoes
Features
- These shoes protect through features such as steel toes, anti-slip, impact resistance, etc.
- Extremely durable, best for industrial settings.
Suitability
- These shoes are ideal for industrial-level work settings such as manufacturing and construction.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Provide complete protection towards variety of hazards. | ❌ These shoes are bulkier, making them uncomfortable. |
| ✅ Durable, can withstand extreme conditions. | ❌ These shoes are costly. |
8. Sport Safety Shoes
These shoes are specially designed for athletes to prevent sports-related injuries. Sport safety shoes are designed to withstand wear and tear and offer anti-odour, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.
Features
- Protects sport-related injuries.
- Made with breathable materials.
Suitability
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Comfortable to wear for longer period. | ❌ Not suitable for heavy-duty industrial tasks. |
| ✅ Modern designer appearance. | ❌ Offers limited protection; these shoes are not for versatile application. |
9. Heat Resistant Safety Boots
These safety shoes are specifically designed to withstand high-temperature work environments. They are built to prevent burn injuries for workers involved in coal, mining, and other industries. They are extremely durable and best for industrial applications.
Features
- It is made with heat-resistant materials.
- Provide thermal insulation against extreme heat.
Suitability
- These shoes are suitable for industrial applications involving working in high-temperature conditions, such as coal, mining, metalworking, or glass industries.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Durable shoes with high resistance to heat. | ❌ Best for high-temperature work settings, these shoes do not offer versatile application. |
| ✅ Best suited for industrial applications | ❌ Heavier than other shoes. |
10. Lightweight Work Boots
These safety shoes are lighter on foot and provide comfort even during prolonged work hours. Lightweight work boots are also ideal for small-scale work environments that do not involve heavy machinery, harsh temperatures, or chemical handling.
Features
- These shoes are lightweight and comfortable.
- These shoes offer better flexibility and movement.
Suitability
- Suitable for work environments where mobility is more, such as logistics, warehouse operations, etc.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Comfortable, ideal for long working hours. | ❌ Less durable than other types of safety shoes. |
| ✅ Offers versatile use across different industries. | ❌ Offer lesser safety when compared to other safety footwear. |
11. Wellingtons/PVC Boots/Gumboots
These safety shoes offer complete protection to the lower leg and foot. The boots are made with PVC material and provide resistance to slip. They are best suited for agriculture, fishing, etc.
Features
- These shoes are made from waterproof materials like PVC.
- Provide full coverage to the lower leg and foot.
Suitability
- It is best suited for agriculture, construction, fishing, and other industries.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Offer slip resistance on wet and muddy surfaces. | ❌ These shoes are not very breathable. |
| ✅ Durable in harsh environment conditions. | ❌ These shoes are bulkier and heavier than other shoes. |
12. Fibre Toe Safety Shoes
The toes of fibre-toe safety shoes are made of carbon fibre or fibreglass. Fibre-toe safety shoes are best known for their electrical insulation properties.
Features
- The toe cap of these shoes are made up of carbon fibre or fibreglass.
Suitability
- These shoes are suitable for the electrical industry.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ These are lightweight, reducing fatigue from prolonged work hours. | ❌ Not as durable as steel-toed shoes. |
| ✅ These are conductive, ideal for electric work. | ❌ These shoes are more expensive. |
Conclusion
- Safety shoes offer a wide range of advantages, such as protection against injuries, chemical spillage, heat burns, and electrical shocks. These features make them an essential part of safety gear.
- There are different types of safety shoes, and each type has different applications, advantages, and disadvantages, which are discussed in the article.
- While choosing the right safety shoes, you must consider every factor that can make your workforce safe.
At Industrybuying, you can find a wide range of safety shoes built to last extreme conditions. We partner with renowned brands like Allen Cooper, Bata, Fulcrum, and Hillson, ensuring high-quality footwear that guarantees durability, comfort, and protection for any demanding environment.
FAQs
The main types of safety shoes available are steel toes, composite toes, gumboots/PVC boots, slip-resistant shoes, heat-resistant shoes, fibre-toe shoes, rubber toes, and sports safety shoes.
To choose the right type of safety shoes, you must consider the business’s work environment, the right type of toe cap, the protective features needed, and the durability of the safety shoes, impact resistance, and energy absorption, among other features.
Safety shoes are part of workplace personal protective equipment (PPE) and offer protection against major foot injuries to employees. They are manufactured to adhere to safety standards and are a mandatory part of safety gear for businesses involving accident-prone work settings.
The difference between steel-toe and composite safety shoes is the material of the toe section of the foot. While the former has a steel toe, the latter has carbon fibre, Kevlar, or plastic. Steel-toe boots are more durable and offer more protection. However, composite-toe shoes are more comfortable to wear.
