Protecting Your Feet – It’s the Law

Safety shoes are an essential part of personal protective equipment (PPE), as they can prevent severe and disabling foot injuries. Wearing appropriate foot protection isn’t just good practice, it’s required by law.

Protective footwear is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for all employees who could be exposed to falling objects, hazardous materials, or matter that could pierce the sole. In order for your workplace to be as safe as possible you should make sure that you follow OSHA guidelines and purchase only certified footwear.

Protective footwear must also comply with American National Standards Institute standard ANSI Z41-1991, which breaks footwear down into 6 categories:

1. Impact/Compression Resistance - uses a steel or nonmetallic toe cap (steel toe) to protect against falling objects or crushing from heavy rolling objects.
2. Metatarsal Footwear - provides similar protection against falling objects to the area of the foot between the ankle and the toes.
3. Electrical Hazard - the sole of the shoe or boot is designed to protect workers from electric shock from 600 volts or less, under dry conditions.
4. Conductive Footwear - prevents the buildup of static electricity.
5. Puncture Resistance - the sole resists penetration from sharp objects; such as nails or broken glass.
6. Static Dissipative - reduces the buildup of static electricity by conducting body charge to ground, while protecting the employee from electrical hazards.


Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a safety shoe:

- Steel toes to protect against falling objects, which cause 60 percent of all foot injuries. Where there are electrical hazards, a fiberglass toe should replace the typical steel toe.

- Good traction to protect against slips and falls, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics said were responsible for about 329,000 lost workdays in 1994. Depending on the environment, consider cleats, or a shoe with an abrasive, gritted grooved, spiked or studded sole.

- Proper chemical protection. Boots and shoes made of rubber, PVC or neoprene (depending on the chemical) are needed.

- Employee comfort. If a shoe is unwieldy or heavy, chances are it will not be worn. Give workers a choice of footwear colors and styles but only after you are satisfied that all of those to be considered provide adequate protection.

Written By: Carissa Kelley

Choosing the Right Leather Work Gloves

Leather work gloves are used to protect against injuries from cuts, abrasions, and exposure to heat. But which leather glove is right for you? Because there are so many options that go along with leather gloves, it could pose a challenge. Most glove manufacturers offer good information on their websites to help with selecting the glove that is most appropriate for your application.

Some of the most common leather glove options include leather types, linings, and features.

Leather Types:

Cowhide – the most commonly used leather in the industry because of its great abrasion resistance and attractive appearance. Cowhide is comfortable, breathable, and very durable.

Pigskin – offers the best abrasion resistance and breathability. In addition, pigskin tends to become softer with use and withstands moisture without stiffening. When laundered, this leather will return more to its natural soft texture than other leathers.

Goatskin – highly recommended for applications requiring tactile sensitivity. The natural lanolin produced by goats helps to create the softest, most abrasion-resistant leather. Independent tests have proven that grain goatskin is twice as durable as cow grain and pig grain leather.

Deerskin – has the highest tensile strength of all leather, with excellent dexterity and softness. Deerskin is known to be one of nature's most luxurious, softest leathers, providing all-day comfort and sensitivity to touch.

Lining Types:

Fleece – most commonly used glove liner, made of napped brushed cotton.

Cotton - maximum moisture absorption and best dexterity for cotton gloves.

Cotton/Foam - cotton layer for moisture absorption; Foam layer for heat protection and cold weather use.

Wool - designed for higher heat and cold applications.

Foam/Thermo - with the comfort of a fleece layer and an additional two layers of polyester and polyurethane foam, this lining offers the most value for warmth insulation.

3M Thinsulate - warmest thin insulation on the market. Thinsulate has about 1.5 times more warmth than down feather lining, and absorbs less than 1% of its own weight in water which allows it to retain its insulating ability even in damp conditions.

Cuff Types:

Safety Cuff - the most common cuff design, measuring 2.5 inches, protects the wrist area. Side split allows wearer to slide the gloves on and off easily in emergency situations.

Gauntlet Cuff - this longer cuff, measuring 4.5 inches, offers the same protection as a safety cuff, with increased protection to the upper wrist and forearm. This cuff holds a tucked sleeve in the glove.

Knit Wrist - the design holds the glove in place with a snug fit, while preventing debris from entering. Knit wrists keep cold air out and warmth in by fitting under clothing sleeves.

Plasticized - waterproof polyethylene layer laminated between two pieces of fabric.

Rubberized - two layers of fabric with a rubber material in between.

Written by: Carissa Kelley

BlackJack Tire Repair Kits

In the United States there are seven tire punctures every second, totaling 220 million flat tires each year. In addition, anyone who uses a vehicle off-road or at hazardous job sites is far more at risk for tire punctures.

Avoiding costly tire repairs at the repair shop is now possible with tire repair kits from BlackJack. These kits include everything you need to repair tires yourself, and the step-by-step instructions are fully illustrated and easy for anyone to follow. The tire does not even have to be removed from the vehicle to repair it!

BlackJack tire repair kits include high-quality and professional grade tools. Each kit come fully equipped with the following items: a heavy-duty plastic case with molded compartments, snap lock, solid 12 oz. Chrome t-handle tools, reamer, open-eye needle, razor blade, and a jar of lube.

BlackJack tire repair kits have a lifetime warranty and are guaranteed to last for the life of the tire. The repairs work on any size and type of tire, on any vehicle as long as it’s tubeless.

Written by: Carissa Kelley

Work Gloves DO Work…

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hands and fingers are the most commonly treated body parts of the many injuries treated annually in emergency rooms across the country. With safety awareness and the use of proper work gloves, hand and finger injuries can be prevented.

The OSHA regulation 1910.138 mandates employers to select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees’ hands are exposed to hazards. These hazards include potential hand injury from skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns, and harmful temperature extremes.

Work gloves are categorized by the hazard they prevent, and also the material they are made of. Some examples include:

Cut Resistant – Leather, canvas, or cloth work gloves provide general purpose protection against cuts, abrasions, dirt, and burns. Metal mesh work gloves also provide protection against cuts when handling sharp objects. Work gloves made of DuPont’s Kevlar provide great cut resistance and are also very lightweight and flexible.

Coated work gloves are great for general-purpose abrasion protection with added slip-resistant qualities and more dexterity.

Heat Resistant - Leather and canvas work gloves also protect against sustained heat. Aluminized work gloves provide reflective and insulating protection against high temperatures and flames.

Chemical Resistant - Made from neoprene, latex, vinyl, and PVC, chemical-resistant work gloves are designed for handling chemicals and hazardous substances that may damage the skin. These materials may be in the form of a disposable glove, or can be blended or laminated for better performance. It is important to know which type of work glove will protect you from the substance with which you are working with. Many glove manufacturers offer chemical-resistance charts to aid in the selection process.

Electrical Protection - Insulating rubber gloves are designed for electrical work, and must meet certain requirements, as stated in CFR 1910.137.

Remember, all possible engineering and work practice controls should be used to eliminate and reduce hazards in the workplace. When work gloves are necessary, they should be selected carefully and used properly.

Written by: Carissa Kelley