“Should a door-person be allowed to wear steel toe-capped boots when working on a door?”
I have just received the following email asking for my advice.
I regularly get asked this question, so it is obviously a common issue.
I thought I’d share it with you along with my response in the hope that:
a) It may help you if you get similar questions, and
b) You may have something that I have missed that you may wish to contribute to it in the comments section.
The email I received is as follows:
“Good evening Mark
I have a question to ask and I am hoping you will be able to help.
I am running my own door team in a night club and one of my staff is wearing steel toe cap boots.
In the risk assessment we are at no point at risk of dropping items on are feet.
I just want to know where I stand.
[Name redacted]”
My response is as follows:
“Hi [Name redacted]
Nice to hear from you as it’s been a while.
Steel toe-capped boots can be classed as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
PPE is defined in legislation as any equipment that protects staff from risks in the workplace.
Importantly, PPE should only be used as a last resort.
Therefore, the first question is what is the risk to your staff member’s feet that require him/her to wear steel-toe capped boots on the door?
Also, is there an increased risk to a member of the public being injured (that would not occur or occur to a lesser degree) if your team member has to restrain them whilst wearing steel toe-capped boots?
Your risk assessment that underpins your company’s dress code policy should be your reference point for that.
Also, your staff have to comply with you company policy on dress code because that (I am presuming) would be a condition of their employment contract and (generally speaking) the if there is no need to wear steel toe-capped boots on a door they should be told to wear more appropriate footwear.
There is a myth that circulates that wearing steel toe-capped boots amounts to wearing an offensive weapon.
This is not the case and I did a video on this in 2016 after consulting a lawyer on that point which you can view here if that helps – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVF16YvqfAE
I hope that helps and feel free to come back to me is you have any further questions.
Best Regards
Mark Dawes”
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