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Can Shoes Cause a Headache?

By Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP)

If you are a Laboratory Safety Officer or a Manager, you know the answer to this  question can be a resounding “YES!” The Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) states in one of its documents that laboratory footwear should “be comfortable, rubber soled, and cover the entire foot. Because canvas shoes will absorb chemicals or infectious fluids, they are not recommended.

 Leather or a synthetic, fluid-impermeable material is suggested."This is not a new standard, but many labs still struggle with determining appropriate footwear and enforcing it with staff.

So how do you approach this if you have a problem? First, check the dress code policy. Some laboratories have their own policies and others follow their corporate dress codes. If footwear is not addressed appropriately for the lab, it’s time to either change the lab policy (if one exists) or it may be time to create one.

Another place to look is in your Chemical Hygiene Plan. OSHA is not as specific about laboratory footwear, but they do require that employers ensure the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including proper foot protection. The PPE section of your Chemical Hygiene Plan is a good place to set policy about laboratory footwear if it is not discussed well in the dress code.

The next important step in your approach will need to be education. In my opinion, you can’t over-communicate to staff about the appropriate types of lab footwear. Use posters with pictures, send out reminder e-mails, and discuss it in staff meetings. Does that seem like too much? Here are a few of the shoe questions I have heard from staff because of lack of education….

Are clog-style shoes acceptable? Are clog-style shoes with a strap on the back protective enough? I was told mesh sneakers are fine, is that right? Are my suede shoes good for use in the lab? I found leather sneakers, but the tongue is mesh- does that work?

My answer to all of these questions is “no.” Of course clog-style shoes will not protect feet, even with a strap on the back. Mesh and canvas are very absorbent and you would not want to wear that if infectious fluids or chemicals are spilled on your foot. If shoes are mostly leather or vinyl but parts of them are mesh,  that means parts of the foot are not protected.

Now here are a couple of interesting challenges regarding laboratory footwear. Think about how you would address these as you read them:

1.     My shoes are suede which can be absorbent, but I have certification that these are waterproof and therefore protective.

2.     My leather sneakers have a mesh tongue on top, but underneath it is leather.

3.     I can’t find any lab-appropriate footwear in my price range, and I think the corporation should buy me shoes.

I believe it’s best to use a common sense response to these situations. Yes, by the letter of the law (or regulation), if you wear waterproof suede or if the bottom of the tongue is leather, your foot is fully protected. But as the Safety Officer or Manager, are you really going to keep track of staff shoe designs and certifications? Each time your lab is audited, will you have staff remove shoes?

My recommendation is to set your policy through the dress code or the Chemical Hygiene Plan. Educate staff that they need to purchase footwear that is obviously protective, and that is obviously leather or vinyl so that anyone looking (or auditing) will know the regulations are being followed. If staff tells you they can’t find this type of footwear, tell them to look harder. All across this country, hundreds of laboratory employees are wearing the appropriate shoes, and they are available at several different stores.

 Yes, odd as it sounds, shoes can cause a headache for the Lab Safety Officer or Manager. But you can make things easier with a clear policy, staff education, and follow-up auditing. By following this path, you can stand firm (in comfortable protective shoes) in the knowledge that you are helping to keep your laboratory staff safe!