When was the last time you really thought about your feet? If you’re like most site managers or workers, probably not often - until something goes wrong. But on a construction site, one misstep can mean serious injury, lost workdays and major costs. With National Feet Week upon us, there’s no better time to step up your foot protection game and make sure your team is covered from heel to toe.
The fact is that our feet do a lot for us. So, why not return the favour? On any worksite, these parts of our bodies are taking the brunt of the action: falling tools, stepping over debris, bracing against slips - the list goes on and on. Despite this, they’re an often-overlooked element of worksite safety. There’s no better time than today to talk about why proper foot protection matters, what the law says, and how to keep your site walking safely.
Protecting Your Feet: It’s a Legal Requirement
Before we step inside our foot protection tips, let’s take a closer look at what the law says on the subject. The UK has strict PPE regulations, and if your team’s footwear doesn’t meet the right standards, you’re not just risking injuries - you’re risking fines, liability and even potential shutdowns. So, before anyone steps onto your site in worn-out trainers or steel-toe boots from 10 years ago, here’s what the law actually requires:
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Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (Amended 2022): This regulation requires employers to provide suitable PPE to employees exposed to health and safety risks at work, free of charge. The PPE must be properly maintained, and employees should receive training on its correct usage. (worksafe.uk.com)
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Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: Employers are obligated to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all employees, which encompasses providing appropriate protective equipment.
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EN ISO 20345:2011: This European standard specifies the requirements for safety footwear, including features like toe protection against a 200-joule impact, anti-static properties, energy absorption in the heel region, and resistance to fuel oil.
Following these rules isn’t just about avoiding fines. It’s about making sure everyone on your site gets home with all ten toes in-tact. Our advice? Follow these regulations closely, and kick those unnecessary safety risks into touch!
What Risks Should You be Looking For?
Construction sites represent a safety minefield for our feet. The list of hazards are practically endless, from dodging tools you’ve dropped and walking over uneven ground to trying not to slip on that puddle nobody cleaned up. When it comes to those major risks, here’s what you should be looking for to stay one step ahead:
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Falling and rolling objects: Tools, materials, and equipment can accidentally fall, posing a threat of crush injuries to unprotected feet.
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Puncture hazards: Stepping on sharp objects like nails, glass shards, or metal fragments can lead to puncture wounds, especially if footwear lacks adequate sole protection.
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Slips, trips, and falls: Uneven surfaces, wet or oily floors, and scattered debris increase the likelihood of slips and trips, potentially causing foot and ankle injuries.
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Exposure to extreme temperatures: Working in environments with extreme heat or cold can result in burns, frostbite, or other temperature-related injuries to the feet.
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Electrical hazards: Contact with live wires or electrical equipment can lead to electric shocks, necessitating footwear with proper insulation.
The human cost of these risks is real, and time and time again, we see stories of their impact. Just look at some of the recent statistics from Statista: in the year 2022/23, the construction industry reported 663 non-fatal injuries related to handling, lifting or carrying. A significant proportion of these incidents affected the lower extremities, with our feet first in the firing line.
While many of these accidents were non-fatal, the impact is serious. According to a report this year in The Telegraph, surveys reveal that a shocking 95% of tradespeople have experienced work-related injuries. Roughly a quarter of those required more than six months off for recovery. So, what can you do about it as a key decision-maker on your site?
1. Conduct a PPE Review
Earlier this year, worksites across the UK were urged to take a closer look at their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure it remains fit for purpose. The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) sounded the alarm on the widespread use of outdated, damaged and non-compliance gear, and the huge safety risks that presented.
As discussed in our recent learning resource, it’s absolutely critical that you conduct regular PPE reviews to make sure your footwear, among other PPE solutions, are up to scratch. When it comes to footwear, you should check for wear and tear, which reduces their slip resistance. Where steel-toe caps and metatarsal caps are being used, these should be individually checked to make sure that they’re still intact.
2. Upgrade Your Foot Protection Solutions
If your footwear isn’t meeting the requirements it should be, you need to take action as a matter of urgency. Depending on the unique requirements of your worksite, you might need to restock on vitals across 5 key areas: safety boots, rigger boots, wellington boots, footwear accessories and safety shoes.
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Safety boots: The Bryson range of safety boots is extensive. However, our Uvex Heckel MX300GT GORE-TEX Safety Boots lead the way. Rugged, 100% waterproof and designed with a GORE-TEX membrane, they even have a heel shock absorber. If this one doesn’t tick all the boxes for you, check out the rest of our safety boots.
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Rigger boots: Take a look at our Rockfall Chicago S3 SRC Rigger Boots. Manufactured with multiple upper panels it offers outstanding ankle support, grips the calf and room for the wearer's foot. It features a steel toecap and stainless steel midsole offering a no-compromise approach to safety.
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Wellington Boots:For a more supportive, full-body approach, we recommend the Portwest Safety Chest Wader, made from heavy duty PVC/nitrile. For a strong Wellington work boot, there are few better solutions than Rockfall Silt S5 Safety Wellingtons, which are highly robust and developed with specialist durability materials including FORCE10 components, an Activ-Step PU footbed and 5mm neoprene upper.
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Footwear accessories: If elements like insoles or metatarsal guard plates are worn out, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to totally replace your footwear. In most cases, you can find the replacements you need. Our Footwear Accessories page is the perfect place to take a look.
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Safety shoes: Who said foot safety can’t be stylish? The Rockfall Brooklyn Brogue Safety Shoe is a breathtakingly lightweight all-purpose executive safety shoe.It’s ESD rated below 35megaohm in accordance with EN 61340-4-3:2018. While it’s made for use on busy worksites, they wouldn’t look out of place in any corporate boardroom.
For our full selection of footwear protection products, click here.
3. Raise Awareness on National Feet Week
National Feet Week is the perfect time to put foot safety front and center, and one of the best ways to do that is through clear signage and proper PPE training. Think about it: how many times do workers rush onto a site without checking their boots? A simple, well-placed safety sign can serve as a daily reminder to wear the right protective footwear and ensure compliance with site regulations. Place signs at entrances, break areas, and high-risk zones that reinforce the importance of impact resistance, slip protection, and proper fit. A quick, “No boots, no entry” policy backed by bold signage makes it clear that foot protection isn’t optional: it’s essential.
Use National Feet Week as an opportunity to run on-site safety briefings or a quick toolbox talk on foot protection. Demonstrate the differences between standard and reinforced safety footwear, educate workers on choosing the right boots for the job, and highlight common foot injuries that proper PPE can prevent. Even a hands-on session, where workers inspect their own boots for wear and tear, can drive home the importance of proper protection. By making foot safety visible and actionable, site managers can ensure their teams are not just wearing PPE, but wearing it correctly and effectively.
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