Are Employers Required To Pay For Steel Toe Boots?

Employers have a duty of care towards the wellbeing and welfare of their employees while they are at work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces several laws relating to workplace safety. For the purposes of this guide, we’ll concentrate on the Personal Protective Equipment Act 1992.

PPE is defined in the act as any equipment that protects staff from risks in the workplace. Importantly, PPE should only be used as a last resort. Ideally, the employer will implement other measures to reduce risks following a risk assessment of the workplace.

However, where PPE is required, the employer must:

Ensure it’s appropriate for its intended use. It should be fitted properly, conform to design standards and protect against the risks involved.
Make sure it is maintained and stored properly.
Train staff on how to use the PPE correctly.
Pay for the PPE and provide it where needed. Staff cannot be asked to pay for PPE themselves.

So, the answer to the question, “Are employers required to pay for steel-toe boots?” is yes if there is a risk to staff that cannot be mitigated in any other way. Therefore, if you’ve suffered toe or foot injuries because protective footwear was not provided or it was not adequate, you could be eligible to claim compensation for your injuries.

Time Limits For Accident At Work Claims

We should point out that accident at work claims are bound by time limits. In most cases, you will have 3-years to begin your claim. Generally, this will begin on the date your foot injury was sustained. There are some exceptions to this rule, though.

For example, you might need PPE to protect you from exposure to harmful dust and other materials. If this PPE is not adequate, it could cause lung disease.

This disease may not be apparent straight away, and it could take some time for your symptoms to develop. Therefore, the time limit would begin when you became aware that your injuries were caused by negligence.

There are other exceptions to the time limit, so why not call us today to check how long you have to claim? Otherwise, you can read on for more information on what PPE employers need to provide.

What PPE Are Employers Required To Provide?

Let’s take a look at some types of PPE that employers may need to provide to keep staff safe at work. This is not a complete list, but some common items include:

Steel toe boots.
Helmets and protective headgear.
Eye protection.
Safety gloves.
Hi-vis jackets.
Protective masks or respirators.
Safety harnesses.

Additionally, it is not acceptable for these items to be stored away on the premises. Instead, they must be readily accessible and in good working order. If you’re wondering, “Are employers required to pay for steel-toe boots?” you can speak with our team for free legal advice.

Is It A Legal Requirement To Wear Steel Toe Boots?

Having answered the question “are employers required to pay for steel-toe boots?”, the next thing to ask is “when do I have to wear the boots I’m provided?”

You might think that if your employer provides steel-toe boots, you are legally obliged to wear them all the time. The problem here is that protective boots can be uncomfortable and cause pain. According to the HSE, safety footwear only needs to be worn when there is a real danger.

For example, you would need to wear safety boots when the task you’re working on involves:

Cutting or chopping.
Heavy machinery.
Carrying heavy loads.
Pneumatic drills, jackhammers or concrete breakers.

When working on less dangerous tasks, you may wish to speak with your employer about alternative footwear options.

How Do You Choose The Best Safety Footwear?

Protective footwear should be suitable for the task at hand. Therefore, employers should review the exact nature of the task when choosing protective equipment.

For example, they may wish to provide steel toe cap boots for construction roles but for roles in a factory, they might choose shoes with anti-slip protection.

If you have any concerns about the type of protective footwear you’ve been provided with, the first thing to do is discuss them with your employer.

Steel Toe Safety Boots – What Could Happen Without Them

Steel toe cap boots are designed to keep your feet safe from certain hazards, as mentioned earlier in this guide. Without steel toe safety boots, you could suffer an injury to your feet. The types of injuries you could suffer without steel toed boots could vary in severity. Laceration injuries and penetrating wounds could cause an infection.

Other foot injuries include:

Crush injuries.
Broken foot.
Broken toes.
Nerve damage.
Bruising.
Amputation, such as the amputation of your great toe or the partial amputation of your foot

If you do suffer a foot injury at work, you should:

Report it in the accident book and ask for a copy of the accident report.
Photograph the accident scene and the damage caused.
Seek medical treatment. Your medical records could be used later to support your claim.
Take contact details from any witnesses.
See if CCTV footage is available.

By doing so, you’ll improve your chances of winning compensation, as you’ll have some evidence that could help during your claim.

If you’ve suffered a broken foot or any other injury because you weren’t given suitable protective footwear, why not call to see whether you have a valid compensation claim? You could be offered free legal advice and, if your claim is valid, connected with one of our solicitors.

What Is My Foot Or Toe Injury Worth?

There are two types of damages you could claim for as part of a successful personal injury claim. General damages are based on the extent of your injury and how badly it has negatively affected your life. The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can provide you with more insight into the general damages compensation you could receive. Legal professionals often use these guidelines to give clients a better idea of what their injury could be worth.

The below figures are taken from the latest JCG publication and are based on successful court cases from Wales and England. Please remember that these figures are only meant as guidance. They are not guaranteed. Also, the top figure is not from the JCG.

Workplace Injury	Severity Level	Settlement Bracket
Multiple serious injuries plus associated financial costs	Serious	Up to £500,000+
Foot	Amputation of one foot (b)	£102,470 to £133,810
	Very severe (c)	£102,470 to £133,810
	Severe (d)	£51,220 to £85,460
	Serious (e)	£30,500 to £47,840
	Moderate (f)	£16,770 to £30,500
Toes	Amputation of all toes(a)	£44,570 to £68,430
	Amputation of the great toe (b)	In the region of £38,210
	Severe (c)	£16,770 to £25,710

Injuries From A Lack Of Work Safety Boots – Special Damages

Your compensation payout may also include special damages. This head of damages in personal injury claims recovers any costs incurred as a direct result of injuries suffered when your employer failed to provide suitable work safety boots.

If you suffered a foot injury, such as a broken foot, because your employer did not provide adequate work boots with a steel toe, some of your special damages may include:

Lost wages. You can present your wage slips to recover your loss of earnings, including pension contributions, if you are out of work due to your injuries.
Wheelchair rental or purchase.
Travel expenses, such as taxi fares, to your medical appointments.
Vehicle adaptations.
Home adaptations, such as stairlift installation if needed to cope with your injuries.

Our advisors can give you a free valuation of your claim if you suffered when your employer failed to provide appropriate steel toe shoes. Contact our team today using the details at the top of this page.

Why Make A Compensation Claim With Our Expert Solicitors?

If you have been injured due to a lack of work safety boots, you should make a compensation claim with our expert solicitors to benefit from immediate, tailored legal support. When you choose Public Interest Lawyers, you’re choosing a team that puts your recovery first. We will prioritise your rights as an injured worker while we build your case, including by:

Helping obtain key evidence, such as CCTV footage, accident book forms, risk assessments identifying a need for safety boots, or logs documenting the issuing of PPE.
Providing expert guidance about the safety regulations that apply to your case, including those governing PPE.
Connecting you with orthopaedic specialists, podiatrists, and physiotherapists to aid your long-term recovery.
Arranging an independent medical assessment to assess the severity of your foot or toe injuries and their impact on gait, mobility, and balance.
Giving regular case updates so you always know where your workplace accident claim stands.

To learn more about the benefits of claiming with our expert solicitors or for further guidance concerning the question, ‘Do employers have to pay for safety boots?’, feel free to get in touch today.

Can I Claim Against My Employer With Public Interest Lawyers On A No Win No Fee Basis?

Yes, you can claim against your employer with Public Interest Lawyers on a No Win No Fee basis. Providing their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), our solicitors do not require any payment of service fees throughout the claim, including:

Upfront
As the workplace claim progresses
In the event that your case is unsuccessful

If you receive compensation for the injuries you sustained to your foot or toes, you will pay a success fee to your solicitor. This is a legally capped percentage of the accident at work compensation, keeping the bulk with you.

To learn if you could be connected with our specialist solicitors today, please contact our advisory team for a free case check:

Call direct on 0800 073 8803
Fill out the online form
Use our live support option