PPE: Legs/Feet – Safety Checklist
PREAMBLE
Foot injuries are among the most common workers’ compensation injuries, including breaks, fractures and heel injuries. The human foot and ankle contain 26 bones, 33 joints and more than a hundred muscles, tendons and ligaments, so it’s no wonder injuries to the foot can be especially painful – and slow to heal.
Specific examples of workplace foot injuries
| Injuries | Common Causes |
| Crushed or broken feet, amputations of toes or feet | Feet trapped between objects or caught in a crack, falls of heavy objects, moving vehicles (lift trucks, bulldozers, etc.), conveyor belts (feet drawn between belt and roller) |
| Punctures of the sole of the foot | Loose nails, sharp metal or glass objects |
| Cuts or severed feet or toes, lacerations | Chain saws, rotary mowers, unguarded machinery |
| Burns | Molten metal splashes, chemical splashes, contact with fire, flammable or explosive atmospheres |
| Electric shocks | Static electricity, contact with sources of electricity |
| Sprained or twisted ankles, fractured or broken bones because of slips, trips or falls |