OSHA's latest ruling

OSHA's latest ruling might signal an unexpected change with respect to the effectiveness of PPE in the workplace. It's long been known that American employers have been under the gun for product unit costs that compare favourably with overseas manufacturers. That overseas workers probably need more protection, is without a doubt. That overseas employers should strive to improve working environments as the national wealth increases, is a hope. Obviously, the playing field American employers find themselves in is not very level. Occupational safety costs are a component of the goods manufactured.

There has been a culture of fear and compliance within our employer community - hardly the most creative atmosphere. In other countries, China for example, necessity is a primary motivator. Innovation, productivity and profits in such societies can be massive given low wage structures and low occupational health and safety standards.

The position of safety overshoes in the PPE marketplace reflects how a cost-effective piece of safety equipment can be neglected at the expense of lower cost occupational safety. Steel toe rubber overshoes have been made an ‘orphan’ by the slavish interpretation of OSHA regulations. For reasons more to do with how Standards are structured, these items of PPE have been looked down upon for their lack of ANSI or ASTM tags. However, more informed research indicates that rubber safety overshoes, provided they meet minimum standards, are an innovative low cost alternative to safety boots where toe protection only is called for.

There are now 100% rubber, steel toe safety overshoes on the market that are in full compliance with ASTM minimum requirements for Impact and Compression. This should come as no surprise given that the steel toecaps in overshoes are the same ones used in safety footwear – test results can prove this. OSHA does not approve PPE. However, it requires employers to assess risks in the workplace and provide appropriate worker protection. OSHA allows for a certain amount of discretion in this regard and common wisdom tells us that occasional risks are unavoidable but expected to minimal. For example, an office worker passing through a safety zone could be expected to wear toe protection, if no other protection is required. Slip resistant, steel toecap safety overshoes are permissible under OSHA and Workplace Safety rules. Other settings where safetytoes might be approved include environments such as within the newspaper industry where the predominant risk comes from heavy equipment and rolls of paper. Likewise, safetytoes are approved anywhere there is no risk from penetration underfoot. Often they are preferred by workers suffering from diabetes and have some other safety features and unexpected advantages. Such as in the food processing industry where the possibility of contaminants brought in by ‘street’ shoes can easily be isolated within rubber safetytoe overshoes. Flexible, easy on and off, overshoes encourage usage resulting in improved safety.

Safetytoe overshoes cost a lot less than full safety footwear. It is reasonable to assume overseas workers are not wearing expensive safety shoes. Perhaps, with OSHA’s new final ruling, American employers will consider using these very versatile and compliant pieces of PPE?

http://www.safetytoes.com