ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Every shop in the Nichols Industrial Complex has a requirement for anyone entering to wear safety shoes. This personal protective equipment requirement is not only a reflection of installation standards, but regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
For employees, it is a relatively simple process to be issued safety shoes and typically takes about a week.
First, employees should inform their supervisor new shoes are needed because of wear on the shoe or around the steel toe area.
"We used to replace safety shoes every six months, but now the standard is fair wear and tear according to the employee's supervisor," said Michael Romero, a supply technician for the depot's Directorate of Material Management.
The supervisor will fill out a form 735-4E, which will be sent to the shoe store via pouch mail, e-mail or hand delivery.
"When we receive an employee's form, we look up their record in our database to see when shoes were last ordered for them and what was ordered in the past," said Romero.
Romero or his co-worker, Walter Birdsong, then set up an appointment for the employee.
Each Wednesday morning, supervisors receive an e-mail from Romero or Birdsong listing the employees who have an appointment for the next day and the times employees are scheduled to arrive.
The appointments are based on the schedule for the shoe trucks, which always come to the installation on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
"Employees are typically scheduled in 15-minute increments throughout the time the shoe trucks are here," said Romero.
Once they arrive for an appointment, the employee is able to browse the shoe displays in the truck to choose the type of shoe appropriate for their work or they can simply ask for the same type of shoe they have been wearing.
"If they want the same type of shoe they ordered the last time, we make a notation on the shoe request and all the employee has to do is give the request to the driver of the shoe truck," said Birdsong.
Romero said the most popular type of safety shoes currently are slip-on boots, which come in a variety of styles. Two versions of the slip-on boots have also recently been approved for use by welders.
"We always get the question asked -- which shoe is the lightest," said Romero, adding weight seems to depend upon the perception of the individual and the work environment they are in.
Most of the time, employees who keep their shoe truck appointments receive shoes that day. Sometimes, however, a style may be out of stock in the size needed and the shoe store will place a special order for the shoe.
"One of the biggest issues we hear is that our shoes are not attractive," said Romero. "I tell people they are made to work in, not to party in."
FROM OSHA 3151 -- PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Foot and Leg Protection
Examples of situations in which an employee should wear foot and/or leg protection include:
• When heavy objects such as barrels or tools might roll onto or fall on the employee's feet;
• Working with sharp objects such as nails or spikes that could pierce the soles or uppers of ordinary shoes;
• Exposure to molten metal that might splash on feet or legs;
• Working on or around hot, wet or slippery surfaces; and
• Working when electrical hazards are present.
Safety footwear must meet American National Standards Institute minimum compression and impact performance standards in ANSI Z41-1991 (American National Standard for Personal Protection-Protective Footwear) or provide equivalent protection. Footwear purchased before July 5, 1994, must meet or provide equivalent protection to the earlier ANSI Standard (ANSI Z41.1-1967). All ANSI approved footwear has a protective toe and offers impact and compression protection. But the type and amount of protection is not always the same.
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