Metatarsal guards

Refer to 29 CFR 1910.136 for OSHA standards addressing foot protection. Select safety shoes made of sturdy materials with impact-resistant toes. Some shoes contain metal insoles that protect against puncture woimds. Additional protection in the form of metatarsal guards can provide additional protection. Today s safety shoes come in a variety of styles and materials. Classification of safety shoes relates directly to their ability to meet requiranents of compression and impact tests. Protective footwear must comply with the requirements found in the ANSI Z-41.1 Standard. 

Metatarsal guards or instep guards — Protect the upper foot from impacts. In these shoes, metal guards extend over the foot rather than just over the toes. 

Figure 28-4. Foot protection (a) Exploded view of a safety shoe with safety toe and instep protector and (b) metatarsal guard.

OSHA allows employers to use metatarsal guards or footwear with built-in metatarsal protection when metatarsal protection is needed in the workplace. If the employer requires employees to wear metatarsal shoes or boots, the employer has to pay for the footwear. 

However, when the employer provides metatarsal guards and allows the employee, at his or her request, to use shoes or boots with built-in metatarsal protection, the employer is not required to pay for the metatarsal shoes or boots. 

Employers may contribute to the cost of metatarsal shoes or boots. Some employers currently offer their employees a choice between using a metatarsal guard provided and paid for by the employer or a metatarsal shoe or boot with some portion of the cost of the shoe or boot paid for by the employer, essentially establishing an allowance system. OSHA believes this to be an acceptable practice. 

Add-on protections such as metatarsal guards, shoe covers, rubber spats, strap-on cleats, and puncture-proof steel inserts. 

Metatarsal guards are made of aluminum, steel, fiber or plastic, and protect the Instep area from Impact and compression. 

Safety shoes need to be sturdy and have an impact-resistant toe. In some shoes, metal insoles protect against puncture wounds. Additional protection, such as metatarsal guards, may be found in some types of footwear. Safety shoes come in a variety of styles and materials, such as leather and rubber boots and oxfords. Safety footwear is classified according to its ability to meet minimum requirements for both compression and impact tests and need to meet ANSI standard Z41. 

Are shin/metatarsal guards being used during power washing activities ... 

The typical steel toe boot or shoe offers protection for the toe area with the exception of the little toe, which cannot be covered. The reason for this unprotected area is that the required flexing of the foot and shoe rules out a steel toe (or fiberglass toe) that extends further back onto the shoe. If the steel toe were larger, employees could not bend the shoe properly to walk, bend, or climb. Metatarsal guards offer more protection to the instep of the foot from falling objects. The metatarsal bones can be easily injured. When the metatarsal bones are injured the victim has difficulty in standing or walking. 

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