Posted By Jason911 I have been advised that supplying employees with steel toe caps in areas in which fork lift trucks operate is not necessarily a good idea. Apparaently this is because in the event that a wheel of a fork lift should run over their foot it would do much more damage and result in possibly severed toes, as opposed to broken bones. I don't fancy either myself but would appreciate your thoughts.

Posted By Alan Hoskins Years and years ago, when steel toecaps were in their infancy, I believe that it was possible - if run over - for the toecap to fold backwards into the foot and this could obvioulsy cause the injury you describe. I do not believe that any current design would do that, but why not contact one or more of the manufactures for reassurance? Alan

Posted By The toecap I would go for the non slip surface. As this is good for all(including vehicles) and not just the shoe wearer.

Posted By Melanie Black I too have had experience of an employee having the front of their safety boot ran over by a fork lift truck. The leather of the boot was a bit worse for wear afterwards, and the steel toe cap looked slightly out of shape, but I dread to think what his foot would have looked like without the boot on. As another response correctly stated, you also have to consider the risk of goods that are being moved falling onto peoples feet as apposed to simply the risk of the vehicles running over people's feet. Of course, segregated walkways/traffic routes are always favoured, but considering how relatively inexpensive safety shoes are I think they are a good additional means of protection. The ones I purchase also have non-slip soles. I have a very graphic picture of a foot that has been run over by a FLT (safety shoes weren't worn). It didn't happen at my place of work thank God, but it shows just what can happen if safety shoes aren't worn. If anybody would like a copy (be warned, it isn't pretty), I will forward it to them. Mel

Posted By Darren J Fraser Hi Melanie Any chance of a copy of that picture please Regards Darren

Posted By The toecap And me

Posted By Jason911 Mel, I didn't think I wanted a copy but then I was eating my lunch at the time. Now I have digested it I think I'd like one. How does that work then? Jason

Posted By JD Chalmers I was once walking beside someone as they were chatting to a FLT driver who drove over his foot, he was wearing trainers and I was the first aider. I sat him down and was about to take his shoe off but thought better of it, I elevated it, made him comfy and waited for the Ambulance. He was off work for months but on his return he said he was told by the hospital that he would have lost his toes if he was wearing safety shoes. My personal opinion is that this "myth" started as an attempt during a compensation claim to limit the amount withheld from the claiment due to contributory negligence. " I know I should have worn my boots M'lud but lucky I forgot coz the Doc says if I had I would have suffered a worse injury so please do not with hold a proportion of my money for being clever/lucky enough to forget to wear my PPE" PS I would like a copy of the photo please.

Posted By Merv Newman I have a photo available of a safety shoe still squashed under a FLT. The wearer was able to withdraw his foot from the shoe without injury. The H&S person who sent me the photo told me that the wearer was from an agency and had been on site for no more than two hours. E-mail requests only please. "me toos" take up too much space on the forum. And I am sure that the monitors don't like it much. (though they are too polite to say so) Merv

Posted By Sam Roberts Jason911 well that is a coincidence, remember me saying i was offered a position after posting on this site, well it is for a Company that specialises in Non Slip treatments. What a laugh if I was sent to test the CoF of yours floors. yours in safety Sam

Posted By Jason Wiggins Could I please have a copy of the picture to? Many Thanks. Email jwiggin3@landrover.com

Posted By Andrew Beveridge Hi Jason, If you want to contact me 'off forum' I may be able to help with ideas on re-use of footwear; agency protective footwear; the issue and recovery of used footwear and slippery floors and footwear as we have been through all of that in the past few months. Regards Andy