Injured as a Result of No Safety Shoes at Work

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is there to help to protect against health and safety hazards in the workplace. Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, PPE is to be defined as all equipment in which is “intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health and safety“.

Safety and work boots are therefore seen as protective work equipment, and therefore must be worn in the work place where necessary. Such Protective work equipment should only be provided with a cost to the employer and an employee is not expected to provide their own equipment.

Both employers and employees have a duty with regards to safety shoes. Under the 1992 regulations, it states that it is an employer’s duty to ensure that all PPE provided is kept “maintained in an efficient state” and is in “good repair“. Safety shoes must be chosen sensibly be the employer so that they are suitable for the job in hand. Employees have a duty to wear the appropriate safety shoes if they are provided.

There are two main types of accidents that can occur due to not being provided with safety boots when at work. Common accidents which happen are of a crushing, puncture nature or are a trip, slip or fall nature.

To avoid slips and trips, shoes should have a defined shoe pattern and must give good grip to the employee. Employers must only wear suitable safety shoes, which are suitable for the work environment in which they work in.

If you have had an accident at work that wasn’t your fault, which was caused by your employer’s negligence to provide you with suitable safety footwear, you may be entitled to compensation. Call us now on our free helpline 0800 634 75 75.