GENERAL DYNAMICS

Telecom Saudi Arabia

DATE : 14 January 2006

TO : ALL WORKERS CONCERNED

SUBJECT : 20th WEEKLY TOOLBOX MEETING ( Protecting the FEET & LEGS )

Objective :
To reduce accidents involving injuries to the Feet and Legs by educating employees about the importance
of wearing the proper protective equipment (G.I. 0008.005 Protective Safety Footwear).

A. Alarming Facts About Foot Injuries :

1. About a quarter of a million disabling occupational foot injuries occur each year.
2. A Bureau of Labor Statistics study conducted, reveals that over 75% of these foot injuries happen
to workers who aren’t wearing Safety Shoes.
3. Major causes of these type of accident;
a. 60% percent from falling objects
b. 17% percent from stepping on a sharp objects
c. 13% percent from feet being struck by rolling objects.

B. Types of Safety Shoes and their uses:

1. Metal-free shoes, boots, etc.- are used where there are specific electrical hazards or fire and
explosion hazards.
2. “Congress” or gaiter type shoes – protect people from splashes of molten metal or welding sparks.
3. Shoes with reinforced soles or innersoles of flexible metal – are worn where there are hazards
from protruding nails, metals, etc.
4. Rubber boots and shoes, leather shoes with wood soles or wood soled sandals – are used for wet
work conditions.
5. Safety Shoes with metatarsal guards – are worn for operations involving the handling of heavy
materials ( pig iron, heavy castings, timber, etc.)

C. Reasons why other workers don’t wear Safety Shoes :

a. They complain that they’re hot and heavy, and not comfortable to wear,
1. Many Safety Shoes nowadays are as comfortable, practical, and attractive as ordinary street
shoes.
2. The steel cap weighs about as much as a wristwatch.
3. The toe box is insulated with felt to keep the feet from getting too hot or cold.
b. They object to wearing Safety Shoes because the steel caps don’t cover the littlest toes,
1. Studies show that 75% percent of all toe fractures happen to the first and second toes.
2. In most accidents, the toe box takes the load of the impact for the entire front part of the foot.

c. They’re afraid that if the toe box were crushed, the steel edge would cut off their toes,
 1. In reality, accidents of this type is rare; in the majority of cases, Safety Shoes give sufficient
protection.
2. A blow that would crush the toe cap would certainly smash someone’s toes who was not wearing
safety Shoes.

D. Leg Protection :
a. Leggings, which encircle the leg from ankle to knee and have a flap at the bottom to protect the instep,
protect the entire leg.
1. Used by persons working around molten metal.
2. Should be removed rapidly in case of emergency.
b. Shin guards made of hard fiber or metal protect the shins against impact.
c. Knee pads protect employees whose work requires a great deal of kneeling, such as cement finishing or
tile setting.
d. Ballistic nylon pads are used to protect the thighs and upper legs against injury from chain saws.

REMEMBER GUYS, THE BEST PROTECTOR OF OUR BODY IS TO FOLLOW THE SAFETY
RULES AND REGULATIONS ON PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT !!!!!