Many employers require workers to wear safety boots. The boots keep the employee from suffering injuries to his toes and feet. Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations may require safety footwear such as the boots to be used in the workplace. Safety boots have several qualities that can protect the feet and toes, making them an asset for workers.

Safety Toe

Both lace-up and slip-on safety boots may have a reinforced steel toe or a composite toe for protection. In either type of boot, the steel toe is more protective but also makes the boots more cumbersome because it adds to the weight of the boot.

Fit

Anyone who will be wearing boots for eight or more hours a day will want to make sure that they fit comfortably. A lace-up boot can be adjusted to fit your foot from the toe to the top of the boot and is laced up snugly. A slip-on boot is more like a cowboy boot, and the top of the boot is not tight to your skin. Therefore, the lace up boot is more stable and keeps your feet warmer all year round, but does not breathe as well.

Non-Skid

Both lace-up and slip-on safety boots are available with nonskid soles to keep you from slipping on wet or oily surfaces. Especially on hard surfaces, this prevents falls and the injuries associated with them.

Oil- and Water-Resistant

A good quality work boot--either lace-up or slip-on--will have uppers made of water- and oil-resistant leather or man-made materials. This is important when you work with oil or water daily, because they can cause wear and tear on the boot material, which eventually leads to decomposition.

Shock Resistant

Both the lace-up and pull-on boots are available in a shock-resistant style to prevent electrocution of the wearer. The industry standard is to prevent electrical hazards for open circuits of 18,000 volts. This is essential if you are work around electrical lines.

Considerations

Lace-up and the slip-on safety boots have many of the same features. A lace-up boot can catch burning embers from welding or metal shards from cutting metal in its laces, and it will take longer to get off than a slip-on style boot. An advantage of the lace-up boots is that they fit tightly and will not slip off if you catch them on something while climbing on scaffolding or ladders. Slip-on boots are cooler in the summer though not as warm in the winter. The safety ratings and protection are equal in each type of boot when compared in the same price range. Major manufacturers make each type of boot. Some people will have both types of boots.