The pros and cons of leather safety boots - iSB Group Blog

Leather safety boots have been a popular choice for workers across a wide range of industries for many years.

But, when it comes to choosing the right safety boots for your workplace, how do you know if leather is the best choice for your needs?

In this blog, we delve into the pros and cons of leather safety boots and explore the alternative materials you might want to consider…

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Leather safety boots: The pros

One of the most popular materials used in safety boot manufacture, leather has several advantages that may make it a good choice for your workplace.

These include:

• The ‘classic’ look – The traditional choice, leather safety boots provide a classic look that will never go out of style. Synonymous with durability and toughness, wearing leather footwear may make workers feel more confident and professional at work.
• Long-lasting strength – Leather is a strong, incredibly durable material that will withstand a variety of workplace hazards, making it a versatile choice for safety footwear worn in many work environments.
• It’s a natural material – Leather is biodegradable, making it a more sustainable choice than some synthetic materials. The fact it is a natural material also means it is breathable, allowing air to circulate around the feet during wear, keeping them cool and comfortable while helping to prevent odour and fungal infections.
• It’s easy to care for – Leather safety boots are easy to clean and maintain. Simply wipe them over with a damp cloth and mild soap, and apply leather conditioner or waterproofing spray on a regular basis.
• It can be waterproofed – Where added protection is needed for those working in wet or muddy work environments, leather safety boots may be specially treated to be waterproof, ensuring workers’ feet stay dry and comfortable all day long.

Leather safety boots: The disadvantages

For many people, leather safety boots may represent the ideal choice for their workplace, however there are also some disadvantages to choosing leather that are worth considering.

These include:

• It is heavy – Many alternative materials used in modern safety boots are lighter than leather, the weight of which may make leather safety boots uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time.
• It can be expensive – Leather safety boots can be more expensive than those made from alternative materials.
• Ethical considerations – With the growth of veganism, not all of your employees may be happy to wear safety boots made from an animal-derived material such as leather. When planning to make such a purchase, check with your staff that you won’t be inadvertently asking them to compromise on their beliefs.

Leather safety boots: The alternatives

If leather safety boots don’t meet your needs, there are lots of other alternative materials out there that are increasingly being used alone or in combination to make high quality safety boots.

These include:

• Synthetics – Synthetic materials like nylon and mesh are lightweight and breathable.
• Composites – Combining materials such as Kevlar, carbon fibre and plastic can achieve a safety boot that is both lightweight and strong, offering the same level of protection as a steel toe cap boot but being more comfortable to wear.
• Rubber – Rubber offers excellent slip resistance and protection against water and other liquids.
• PVC – Durable and waterproof, PVC safety boots are often used by industrial or agricultural workers.

Are leather safety boots right for you?

Safety Shoes Make the Outfit for Well-Protected Workers

When you are wearing safety shoes, you are more likely to be protected from common hazards. 

Do you remember the first time you were required to wear safety or steel toe shoes? You likely complied by purchasing a pair without really thinking about how and why they would protect you. Before the term personal protective equipment (PPE) came to be, workers during the industrial revolution were already inventing ways to protect themselves. French and British farmers wore sabots, hallowed out wooden shoes to protect their feet. These shoes protected them from falling objects and famously became known because workers threw their sabots into production machinery during protests. This is how the word sabotage came into existence.

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True safety shoes appeared in the s when German soldiers in WWII were issued boots with reinforced metal toecaps. After this time, safety shoes became prevalent with workers in many countries. Then in , the U.S. established the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which gave the Federal government the authority to set and enforce health and safety standards for American workers.

OSHA Requirements Today

OSHA outlines foot protection requirements in standard 29 CFR .132 and .136. The general requirements state that “The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures.”

OSHA suggests protective footwear be worn in situations involving the following dangers:

• corrosive or poisonous materials
• electrical hazards
• static electricity that could cause an explosion
• heavy objects that could roll onto feet
• sharp objects that could puncture the foot
• molten metal that could splash onto feet
• hot or slippery surfaces

Why and How They Protect You

There are many occupational hazards for feet. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 53,000-foot injuries per year leading to missed work days. This means that on average, 4.8 individuals per 10,000 full-time workers are missing work due to foot injuries. While foot injuries affect workers of all ages, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says injuries to the foot most frequently occur in workers in the 16-19 age range.

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