Safety Footwear & Shoes for Crews

Shoes for crews is a program that SLU has implemented to promote safety in the workplace by making available quality footwear at discounted cost for employees. 

Shoes can be ordered by stopping by the Purchasing Office located in the warehouse.   

Full-Time Permanent SLU Employees

Full-time permanent employees follow the same rules as all SLU employees.  The University will fully pay for an employee’s first pair of shoes, and this is the only pair that will be fully covered during the employee’s career.  For the second pair of shoes, the university pays ½ and the employee pays ½ by payroll deduction or check.  There is a limit of 2 pairs of shoes every 6 months.

Examples:

• First pair cost $60.  SLU pays $60 and employee pays $0.
• Employee gets two pairs at once (first and second).  One pair cost $60 and the other costs $50.  SLU pays for the first pair ($60) and pays half of the second pair ($25), employee pays ½ of second pair ($25).

All Temporary Employees

The university will pay for the first pair of shoes up to $50.  If the first pair is more than $50 then the employee pays the difference.

The most SLU will pay is $50 toward any pair of shoes. 

SLU will pay ½ of the cost per pair after the 1^st pair. 

Temporary Employees only are eligible for 1 pair of shoes every 6 months.

Temporary employees may pay by check or payroll deduction. Temporary employees in Dining Services must also follow the eligibility timing and footwear requirements established by Dining Service management.

Examples: 

• The first pair costs $60, SLU pays $50 and employee pays $10.
• The first pair costs $40, SLU pays $40 and employee pays $0.
• The second pair costs $60.  SLU pays $30 and employee pays $30.
• The second pair costs $40.  SLU pays $20 and employee pays $20.

• Second pair costs $110.  SLU pays $50 and employee pays $60.

  Safety Footwear Procedure

Employees must wear footwear appropriate for the hazards associated with their work. Footwear must be properly fitted, maintained in good condition, and provide adequate protection for the work being performed.

At a minimum, work footwear should:

• Be closed-toe and closed-heel.
• Fit securely and provide adequate support for the work being performed.
• Have durable soles appropriate for the work environment.
• Be slip-resistant when employees work in areas where wet, oily, greasy, or otherwise slippery surfaces may be present.
• Be maintained in good condition and replaced when soles, uppers, protective toes, or other safety features are damaged or excessively worn.
• Meet any additional protective-footwear requirements identified through the employee's job-specific PPE hazard assessment.
• Depending on the employee’s job duties and hazards, footwear must meet at least one of the applicable standards below:
  • ASTM F3445 – Slip Resistance
  • ASTM F2413 – Protective (Safety-Toe) Footwear

ASTM F3445 / ASTM F2913 – Slip Resistance - This should be the default minimum standard where slip hazards are present, particularly for wet, greasy, oily, or frequently cleaned floors.

ASTM F2413 – Safety-Toe Footwear - Required when the job presents impact or compression hazards. The employees should look for I/75 C/75 for safety-toe protection.

For additional protection, check the ASTM F2413 markings:

• Mt/75 – Metatarsal Protection: Protects the top of the foot from impact and compression from heavy falling or rolling objects.
• PR – Puncture-Resistant: Protects the bottom of the foot from sharp objects, such as nails, screws, or metal debris.
• EH – Electrical Hazard: Provides secondary protection against accidental contact with live electrical circuits under dry conditions.

Minimum Footwear Requirements by Work Group

Responsibilities

Departmental Supervisors

• Determine the appropriate footwear requirements for each position using the minimum requirements and applicable standards identified in this procedure, considering the employee’s assigned duties and workplace hazards.
• Communicate these requirements to employees and ensure required footwear is worn and maintained.

Employees

• Select and wear footwear that meets the requirements identified by their supervisor and this procedure.
• Maintain required footwear in good condition and replace it when protective features are damaged or excessively worn.

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

• Establishes and maintains the minimum footwear requirements and applicable safety standards identified in this procedure.
• Provides guidance to supervisors and employees regarding footwear requirements and applicable standards.
• May provide an additional review of footwear selections, when available or requested, to help verify compliance with the requirements in this procedure.