Protective tennis shoes at construction sites

November 17, 1993

Ms. Patricia H. Falls
Executive Vice President
Firstline Safety Management, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Ms. Falls:

This is in response to your letter of September 7 requesting an interpretation of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards applying to foot protection. I apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry.

With regard to whether steel-toed and steel-shanked tennis shoes would be suitable for use at a construction site, please be advised that if the protective footwear meets the requirements and specifications in the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) consensus standard Z41.1-1967 for safety-toe footwear, the shoes would be considered by OSHA to be suitable for use at construction sites for those situations that do not require special foot protection. However, specific site conditions may also warrant the need for metatarsus protection or protection from hazardous liquids, sparks or electric shock.

Please note that ANSI Z41-1991 has replaced ANSI Z41.1-1967. The Agency will not cite if the shoes used meet the current standard (Z41-1991) even where there are differences between the 1967 and 1991 standards.

If we can be of any further assistance, please contact me or Mr. Dale Cavanaugh of my staff at (202) 219-8136.

Sincerely,
Roy F. Gurnham, Esq., P.E.
Director
Office of Construction and Maritime
Compliance Assistance

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]