Do Employers Need to Cover Cost of Safety Shoes?

A question that has frequently come up is if employers are required to pay for employees’ safety shoes. In true lawyer fashion—it depends!

Workplace safety is a top priority, and protective footwear plays a key role in preventing injuries. But when it comes to covering the cost, the answer isn’t always straightforward.

OSHA’s Payment for Protective Equipment regulation (29 CFR 1910.132(h)) outlines when employers must provide and pay for safety footwear—and when employees can be responsible to pay for their own shoes.

Employer Responsibilities

Employers must pay for safety footwear if: 

The footwear is specialized and not for personal use. If the required footwear is custom-designed for specific workplace hazards and not commonly worn outside of work, the employer must provide it. Examples of specialized footwear include:

• Metatarsal boots with built-in protection (not removable guards)
• Dielectric boots for electrical hazard protection
• Chemical-resistant boots for handling hazardous materials 

OSHA requires the footwear and it’s not standard gear. Some employers, because of the type of work they are engaged in, require footwear beyond standard steel-toe boots. If heat-resistant boots for foundry work or other specialty footwear is necessary, the employer is responsible for the cost. 

The employer restricts personal footwear. This one is kind of self explanatory. If a company mandates a specific brand, model, or style of safety boots and doesn’t allow employees to choose their own, the employer must provide them. You pick them, you pay for them!

The footwear is part of integrated PPE. If the boots come with built-in safety features that can’t be separated, the employer is required to pay. Examples of footwear as part of integrated PPE include:

• Boots with permanently attached metatarsal guards
• Custom-fitted safety footwear

Employee Responsibility

So when does the employee have to pay? Employees would have to foot their own bill if: 

• Employees can purchase and wear their own safety-toe footwear, as long as it meets OSHA standards. For example: standard steel-toe or composite-toe boots employees choose themselves and can use outside of work.
• The footwear is considered “non-specialty” safety-toe footwear. For example: a basic boot that is available in retail stores.
• The footwear can be worn outside of work.

Avoid OSHA Violations

Failure to provide required PPE can lead to costly OSHA violations. 

To stay compliant, employers should:

• Review OSHA guidelines on when safety footwear must be provided
• Clearly communicate policies to ensure employee understanding
• Consider reimbursement programs when employees must purchase their own boots

Proper PPE protects both workers and businesses from risks and penalties.

If you’re debating whether to pay for the shoes, chances are they aren’t basic footwear—and you should be footing the bill.

OSHA isn’t asking you to buy your team luxury high heels—unless, of course, you’re feeling extra generous this holiday season. High heels might not be the safest option though, so we obviously don’t recommend it! 

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For more information, contact CBIA’s Delmarina López (860.244.1982).