1910.136: Foot Protection
Employers must make sure affected employees wear protective footwear where there is a danger of foot injuries from falling or rolling objects or objects piercing the sole, or where footwear protects against a remaining electrical hazard such as static discharge or shock. Footwear must meet ASTM F-2412-2005 and F-2413-2005, ANSI Z41-1999 or ANSI Z41-1991, or be shown to be at least as effective.
Key takeaways
- 1910.136 is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 163 times in the last 3 years, in 163 inspections, with $483,613 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: PR (55), TX (10), VA (8).
- Most-cited part: 1910.136(a) General requirements (163 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.136, "Foot protection", is an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). It has 7 numbered paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
Show the full text of 1910.136 (7 paragraphs)
(a) General requirements. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures. Open (a) 163 citations
(b) Criteria for protective footwear. Open (b)
(1) Protective footwear must comply with any of the following consensus standards: Open (b)(1)
(i) ASTM F-2412-2005, “Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection,” and ASTM F-2413-2005, “Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective Footwear,” which are incorporated by reference in § 1910.6;
(ii) ANSI Z41-1999, “American National Standard for Personal Protection—Protective Footwear,” which is incorporated by reference in § 1910.6; or
(iii) ANSI Z41-1991, “American National Standard for Personal Protection—Protective Footwear,” which is incorporated by reference in § 1910.6.
(2) Protective footwear that the employer demonstrates is at least as effective as protective footwear that is constructed in accordance with one of the above consensus standards will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.
[59 FR 16362, Apr. 6, 1994; 59 FR 33911, July 1, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 9238, Mar. 7, 1996; 61 FR 19548, May 2, 1996; 61 FR 21228, May 9, 1996; 74 FR 46356, Sept. 9, 2009; 79 FR 20629, Apr. 11, 2014]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 163 inspections cited 1910.136 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.136.
At 5:15 p.m. on August 27, 2024, Employee #1 was tasked with loading retail products from an 18-wheel truck to a warehouse. While backing up, the forklift fell off the ramp leading to the trailer, causing the employee's head to be crushed between the ground…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 48 |
| 2025 | 75 |
| 2026 | 35 |
Top states: PR (55), TX (10), VA (8), TN (8), WI (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SUPERMERCADO MR. SPECIAL INC | YAUCO, PR | $17,500 |
| FISHER SCIENTIFIC COMPANY, L.L.C. | BRIDGEWATER, NJ | $16,550 |
| UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE | NEW CASTLE, DE | $16,550 |
| THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY | CYPRESS, TX | $16,550 |
| BERRIDGE MANUFACTURING CO. | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $14,187 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.136.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1910.136(a) General requirements 163 citations
- 1910.136(b) Criteria for protective footwear
- 1910.136(b)(1)
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Frequently asked questions
When are safety shoes required?
When there is a danger of foot injuries from falling or rolling objects or objects piercing the sole, or when footwear protects against a remaining electrical hazard.
What standards must safety footwear meet?
ASTM F-2412-2005 and F-2413-2005, ANSI Z41-1999 or ANSI Z41-1991, or be shown to be at least as effective.
Does foot protection cover electrical hazards?
Yes, when protective footwear will protect against an electrical hazard such as static discharge or shock that remains after other measures.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.136 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.