Posted By S J McCubbin If the steel toes are exposed this could pose a risk as the metal to metal contact could cause sparks! Dangerous in certain areas!! If they are supposed to be chemical resistant then this would also render them less effective. I suppose you should look at the job involved but if in any doubts chuck them out and get a nice new pair!

Posted By Stuart Nagle I recall a case some time ago when a person brough a case against an employer, on the grounds of health and safety, where safety boots were leaking and letting in water. The rulling by the judge (on appeal I think) was that the safety intention of the boots was to protect the foot from impact, and this was the sole purpose. The fact that the boots leaked did not reduce their effectiveness in offering this protection and therefore the case failed. In this instance, provided the integrity of the protection offered by the boots is not compromised, I would summise from the above case that they were safe to use, even, as in the case of letting in water, they were not wholly in tact. However in stating this, most good employers would replace boots where; a) they were no longer watertight and feet were getting wet, and/or b) where parts of the boot that may start to effect their integrity were worn away. Stuart

Posted By Robert S Woods You can buy boots with the toe caps on the outside.

Posted By Adam Jackson Surely it would be common courtesy to assume until proved otherwise that someone posting here has an ounce of capability? The eternal comments of "check your risk assessments" which get posted with alarming regularity are not particularly helpful - one would assume that if someone is asking a question about something then they are involved in an assessment of some sort and want a pointer in making that assessment accurate. Mind you, its not as bad as Croner who have made a huge business of repeating the "do/review a risk assessment" matra ad nauseum no matter what the question!

Posted By John Webster Edward I really think you have answered your own question. "good condition, regularly checked and discarded if worn or deteriorated". Are they not "worn or deteriorated" if the leather has rubbed away over the toe cap?