Comments on: Episode 42: Steel Toe-Cap Amputation, Bottle Rocket Blast-off

By: Poetry

Poetry — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:15:57 +0000

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By: Nick Barta

Nick Barta — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:16:15 +0000

My company, Bottom Line Loss Control, trains forklift and aerial lift operators and trainers. For 1 customer, I have demonstrated to the employees what a forklift will do to the human body by packing boots with 1/2 of a cut up chicken, and run them over with forklifts ranging from 8,600 pounds to 9,300 pounds.

About 60 of the tests were done with steel or composite toes, and 45 of the tests were regular work boots. The demonstrations were all done for 1 customer, with locations in the US and Canada. The Canadian locations by law require steel/composite toes, the US locations do not.

Without steel or composite toes, the damage is consistently horrific. We have seen the boot split down the side, and the meat “spooge” out the crack. We have had chunks of exploded chicken shoot across the floor up to 12 feet. We have seen the chicken parts explode through the leather and wrap around the wheel. Whatever the wheel runs over in a non-steel/composite shoe turns into a jello-like substance that no surgeon can fix.

No regular work boot or shoe will protect the person when a forklift is on a foot.

What about steel/composite toes?

Of the 60 demonstrations that had steel/composite toes, the results were consistent and compelling. When loading the boot with the chicken, I put the wing in the toe area, the leg/thigh in the arch/heel area, and then the 1/2 breast in the ankle area, and then tie the top tightly. In 60 tests with steel/composite boots, the wing has never sustained damage…ever. Twice the pressure was so great the bottom edge of the steel toes dug into the cement as the boot was pushed 6 feet, but did not crush any of the “foot.” The pushing of the boot burned the rubber, and the steel toe was pushed through the sole and threw sparks as it cut into the cement-impressive……….

In one test the top edge of the steel toe bent down 1/2 inch, but the majority of the tire went over the arch and ankle, which were completely turned into mush, making
the steel toe cutting into the foot a moot point.

Steel/composite boots are necessary in any industrial workplace where there is potential for heavy objects to land on the foot. This would cover any employees who operate forklifts, employees around forklifts, and employees exposed to the risk of falling heavy objects, even if the employee is not near forklift operations.

Steel/composite toes are just common sense in an industrial work area. The employer needs to do the right thing, and require that steel/composite boots are mandatory in industrial jobs.

By: und losverdienen

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By: mel

mel — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:20:14 +0000

One more note tho about steel toe and horses, I’m not sure about riding in them. Only because I don’t know how much the flexing difference would affect riding style. Steel toe doesn’t let your foot flex as much as a regular boot. But I’ve never tried riding in them either.

By: mel

mel — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:01:04 +0000

I have been wearing regular boots mainly with horses but I am attending farrier school soon and got a pair of steel toe after an incident with my 750lb mare. She spooked and knocked me down and stepped on the side of my foot. If I had steel toed boots then it would have stopped it from even feeling it.

By: Carpenter

Carpenter — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:23:06 +0000

2 days ago i dropped a sheet of plywood straight down on my toes snapping my big toe I am hoping i can exchange a new pair of timberland pros for the steel toe version. Its plain stupid to not wear them.

By: DH

DH — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:31:55 +0000

For a while (around -95?) steel toe shoes were ‘in fashion’ and sold in normal retail shops. Those shoes of course had sub par strength and would cut of toes even in minor accidents. Thus possibly giving rise to the myth, which of course is busted when using standard steel toe shoes.

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:26:11 +0000

Thank you for doing this episode. My brother-in-law dropped a board on his toe at work-a temp job. This gave him 6 more weeks of work. He told his boss that he had on his steel toed boots. He is very upset with us that we called him on it. It doesn’t pay to lie.

By: DJ

DJ — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:18:11 +0000

Steel toe shoes are required at many jobs. There is no dispute about that. I wear them everyday. Get good quality boots and you won’t be uncomfortable.

By: Christian

Christian — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 02:20:57 +0000

That’s like when I was workin in my garage and I dropped an engine block on my foot. My boot saved my foot.