Question of STB

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Permalink Reply by Jason Burzynski on November 30, 2009 at 1:04pm

I know OSHA requires all protective footwear meet ANSI Z41.1-1991. I do not have access to that standard but most STB manufacturers advertise they meet the ANSI requirements. I would contact the manufacturer directly and ask if they meet the ANSI standard. Here is a link to the OSHA page where all PPE is discussed...

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3151.html

Good luck! Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Eichenlaub on November 30, 2009 at 1:14pm

That is what I told the guy that is interested in purchasing the shoes. I told him that they have to be ANSI Certified.

Thanks for the link as well!

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Permalink Reply by Kevin T. Salzman on January 5, 2010 at 10:18am

Many of todays safety toe shoes/boots are made with carbon fiber or Kevlar. Both of these materials offer superior strenght to weight ratios, as well as added protection from electrical hazards, when compared with steel. The American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM] is the source for information regarding protective footwear and makes no differentiation between steel or composite. Their concern is with impact [the I number 75] and the crush [the C number75] protection. The ANSI Standard that the shoes/boots MUST meet is Z41-1991. Make sure that that is the standard the boots/shoes meet for your employees...
I hope this helps....

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Permalink Reply by Greg Brosey on January 11, 2010 at 9:14am

Dawn: On March 1, 2005, ANSI Z41 was withdrawn and replaced by the new ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials) F2412-05. It will be very tough if not impossible to fined shoes marked with the ANSI information (protective-toe must reference the standard it complys with inside the shoe). I also think there is an OSHA proposal out there that says the employeer must meet one of a number of PPE standards instead of specifying any particular one standard (ex: ASTM vs ANSI). I'm sorry I don't remember the specifics of that, I'll have to look at it again. Anyways, if you're interested, here's how to read the info on the inside of the shoe:

If older ANSI Standard, label in the shoe: ANSI Z41 PT 99
F I/75 C/75
Mt/75 EH
PR

Which means: ANSI Z41 is the STANDARD NUMBER / PT means PROTECTIVE TOE / 99 means the YEAR of the standard / F stands for FEMALE / I/75 means IMPACT RESISTANT in foot-pounds (i.e. 75 foot-pounds equals the equivalent of 25 lbs dropped from a height of 3 feet ... 3 ft x 25 lbs = 75 foot-pounds) / C/75 means COMPRESSION RESISTANCE (75 is equal to 2,500 lbs) / Mt/75 means METATARSAL RESISTANCE rating (i.e. 75 foot-lbs) / EH means ELECTRICAL HAZARD rated / PR means puncture resistant.

Newer ASTM Standard label example: ASTM F2413-05
M I/75/C/75/Mt/75
PR
CS

ASTM Standard F2413 issued in 2005 / M means MALE / I/75/C/75/Mt/75 is the same as ANSI / PR means PUNCTURE RESISTANT / CS means CHAIN SAW CUT RESISTANT.

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Eichenlaub on January 11, 2010 at 9:36am

Thank you so much for this information! I didn't know about the 2005 update. I missed it. ? So thank you again!! I appreciate your response!!!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Spresser on January 11, 2010 at 12:37pm

Acceptable in Australia and used in HV footware. As long as it meets the impact energy requirement of whatever standard they are designed to, it should not really matter.

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Permalink Reply by Omar Fundora on February 4, 2010 at 5:14pm

...sure... as long as they are rated equally (ie. 70/30, etc,etc)....

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Permalink Reply by Brian P. Boase, CSHM on February 16, 2010 at 9:33pm

Depending upon the hazard, composite shoes are often better than steel toe shoes. For example, if the exposure causes the shoe to collapse (i.e. foot run over by a forklift), the steel toe shoe will fold and amputate part of the foot. The composite will simply crush but not amputate the foot. As long as the shoe meets the ASTM or ANSI standards and the shoe protects against the weight hazards present, it should be fine regardless of composite or steel toed shoes.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Burzynski on February 17, 2010 at 8:49am

I remember watching a "Myth Busters" where they tried to amputate with a steel toe and it could not be done. Crushing injury but no amputation. Has there ever been a documented case of amputation by steel toe?

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Permalink Reply by Bill West on February 17, 2010 at 11:51am

Many years ago I worked at an aluminum plant where they had wooden brick floors (because of the amount of oil on the floor). A co-worker had a 6 ton coil of aluminum on a gantry crane with a "c" hook. The cable broke and the coil landed right on the steel cap of his boot. It drove the corners of the cap through the sole of his boot and into one of the wooden bricks where it stuck. His foot was cut badly at the base of his toes but it was not even close to amputation. He required stitches but missed no work. That incident made me a believer in safety footwear. Since then, I have seen toes run over by forklifts and dozens of objects dropped or otherwise impact the safety cap and never with injury.

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Permalink Reply by Brian P. Boase, CSHM on February 18, 2010 at 8:56pm

I have seen one where a forklift ran over a foot. It did not amputate the foot but it did take the big toe. Frankly, I think it would have done the same with a composite, but we can never really know.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Burzynski on March 4, 2010 at 11:10am

Some good comments and war stories in the comments field of the article regarding steel toes and amputations...

http://mythbustersresults.com/episode42

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