Under what condition might steel-toed footwear be required on site?

• A. Only employees with safety training wear them.
• B. Steel-toed shoes may be required in addition to leather uppers.
• C. Steel-toed shoes are never required.
• D. Steel-toed footwear is required only in office areas.

Answer: (B)

Hazard-based PPE decisions on the job site determine when protective footwear is needed. If there’s a real risk of heavy objects striking or crushing the toes, steel-toed footwear becomes a requirement. Some boots already have sturdy leather uppers for abrasion and cut resistance, so the policy may require adding steel toes in addition to those features. In short, steel-toed footwear may be required in addition to leather uppers when toe protection is mandated by the site’s safety rules.

PPE rules aren’t about training status, and steel-toed shoes aren’t never required. They’re also not limited to office areas; hazards on the worksite drive the requirement.