- February 4, 2020
- Workers' Compensation
The first time most people are told that they’ll need special non-slip or anti-slip shoes for their workplace, there’s a bit of skepticism. From restaurant work to salons, you’ll find that the slip hazards are daily and very real. Without proper footwear, anyone walking through a workspace could slip, fall, and ultimately injure themselves pretty badly. If this happens to you, you should contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in Charlotte.
But why should the employee have to purchase safety equipment for themselves? As part of a uniform and safety requirement, many believe or feel that the responsibility of providing this equipment should fall to the employer, not the employee.
What Industries Require Anti-Slip Shoes?
Typically any industry that has questionable or changing flooring material will require employees to wear non-slip shoes. In many cases, people will be required to wear anti-slip or anti-skid footwear as a precaution. For example, nearly every restaurant requires all employees to wear anti-slip shoes even if they don’t often go into areas with non-porous flooring material such as the “back of the house.”
However, other unexpected industries will often also require it, such as salons, warehouses, and even truckers. When you’re spending time walking through areas that could have collected water, grease, oil, or other materials on the floor, the employer will typically require anti-slip shoes.
Why is Anti-Slip Present in Workplaces?
Falls are the number one safety issue in a workplace, and when you’re falling from your standing height, there is often not much chance to correct yourself. Walking past a bit of scaffolding and trying to catch yourself could result in greater injury as a result of the fall. However, if you’re in anti-slip shoes, the idea is that the fall or slip shouldn’t happen at all.
Should the Employer Require Employees to Wear Anti-Slip Shoes?
The overarching category that anti-slip shoes fall under is “Personal Protective Equipment,” and it applies to footwear, eyewear, and much more. Now, way back in 2007, OSHA issued a release that covered when an employer should and should not have to pay for an employee’s personal protective equipment.
Basically, it came down to a common-sense application of: can the employee wear the equipment out of work or not? For example, a hardhat with the company logo or name on it is not suitable to wear off the job site. However, anti-slip shoes are suitable.
OSHA decided that the anti-slip shoes were the responsibility of the employee. They must purchase the shoes and replace the shoes when they wear through and become less effective. However, an employer can choose to provide the anti-slip shoes if they so desire. In providing personal protective equipment such as shoes, however, they can require employees to leave them on-site, so there’s no forgetting them or wearing them outside of work.
Working in Moderate-Risk Environments
Typically safety-toe footwear and anti-slip footwear are present in moderate-risk environments where the biggest concern is slipping and falling. For high-risk jobs such as an electrician, they may need anti-slip, non-skid, shock-resistant footwear that goes far beyond helping someone not slip at work.
Take Every Precaution Necessary
Even though purchasing anti-slip shoes falls to the responsibility of the employee rather than the employer, it’s still critical to take every precaution necessary. Not purchasing anti-slip shoes can cost you your job when they’re required. It can make it nearly impossible to work without slipping when you’re in a restaurant, mechanic’s garage, or even a parking center. The oils and liquids present on the floor call for anti-slip shoes as a very basic precaution.
Whenever you’re in doubt, go with the safest option. For the people who are hurt at work because they didn’t have the right safety equipment, the question will always come back to, did the employer provide it and was the employee responsible for having it.
After a Slip, Contact a North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Attorney
At our North Carolina workers’ comp law office, you can find the support you need for your workers’ comp claim. In North Carolina, the laws are pretty straight forward, and if you had the proper equipment and safety gear, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get workers’ comp coverage.
We understand how workers’ compensation companies work and process their claims, so our attorneys work with that in mind as they build your case. If you received a denial or were never offered the chance at making a claim in the first place, then you need legal support. Contact our offices in Charlotte for any workplace injury or safety concern that requires submitting workers’ compensation claims.
