When Are Safety Shoes Mandatory? When, Where and Why [2025 Guide]

Safety shoes are mandatory when the workplace involves risks such as falling objects, sharp materials or hazardous substances. The Dutch Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) requires employers to assess risks and provide suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety footwear. This is documented in the RI&E (risk inventory and evaluation). Employers must ensure safe working conditions, and when the risks require it, workers must wear safety shoes.

When are safety shoes mandatory?

Under Article 3 of the Arbowet, the employer is responsible for worker safety, including providing suitable PPE such as safety shoes. Employers must supply safety footwear when risks include falling objects, slipping or exposure to harmful substances. Footwear must meet applicable standards such as EN ISO 20345.

Risk factors that commonly make safety shoes mandatory:

• Falling objects in warehouses, workshops or construction sites

• Chemical substances in industrial environments or laboratories (petrochemical industry)

• High temperatures in kitchens or fire-risk areas

• Slip risks in wet environments, such as hospitality

Arbowet and safety shoes

Article 3 of the Arbowet requires employers to ensure a safe workplace, which includes protective clothing and footwear when needed. Safety shoes fall under PPE, with specific standards such as EN ISO 20345.

Employer responsibilities:

• Provide safety shoes for workers who need them, and arrange maintenance and replacement when worn out

• Labour inspection checks whether these safety measures are correctly implemented

Read more about occupational rules for workwear and PPE legislation for employers.

Safety shoes by sector

Whether safety shoes are mandatory varies by sector. In every workplace it is important to understand the risks and take the right protective measures. Below is an overview of key sectors and the risks that typically require safety footwear.

Warehouse and logistics

In warehouses and in transport and logistics, safety shoes are typically required because of falling heavy goods and forklift work. Workers who move heavy loads need footwear that meets EN ISO 20345.

Hospitality and kitchens

In hospitality and kitchens, safety shoes help against slip risks, hot liquids and sharp objects such as knife or glass fragments. Kitchen conditions can be hazardous, which makes appropriate footwear essential.

Construction and heavy industry

In construction and heavy industry, risks include falling objects, nails, chemicals and extreme temperatures. Safety shoes are required to protect workers and to meet applicable safety rules.

Healthcare

In healthcare, protective footwear may be needed against infection-related risks, chemical exposure and long standing times. Both safety and comfort matter for staff who spend long periods on their feet. Whether shoes are mandatory depends on the RI&E for that workplace.

Employer responsibilities

Employers must provide work shoes when working conditions require them. This is both a legal duty and a responsibility for worker safety.

Costs and reimbursement

When safety shoes are necessary for worker safety, the employer must pay for them. In practice this means providing them free of charge when required, and covering replacement when they are worn out. There may also be tax aspects for employers who provide PPE, depending on the situation.

Signage and communication

Clear workplace signage helps ensure workers wear safety shoes: pictograms, symbols and warning signs that show footwear is required.

Pictograms and symbols

ISO symbols for mandatory safety footwear are widely recognised and visually remind workers of the required protection. This supports legal compliance and clearer safety communication on site.

Warning signs

Warning signs and stickers should be placed where they are easy to see — for example at entrances, in kitchens, warehouses and workshops. Multilingual signs can help when teams speak different languages.

Types of safety shoes and standards

Safety shoes come in different S classifications; S1, S2 and S3 are the most common. S1 covers basic risks such as impact and compression. S2 adds water resistance. S3 adds a puncture-resistant midsole and a cleated outsole for grip. Read more in Safety shoes S1, S2, S3 explained.

There are also special options such as ESD shoes, heat-resistant soles, metatarsal protection and anti-slip soles for high-risk environments.

Enforcement and consequences

Compliance is monitored by, among others, the Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie (Dutch Labour Authority). Working without required safety shoes can lead to fines for the employer.

Liability also matters: if an accident happens while a worker was not wearing required safety shoes, the employer may be held legally responsible for injury and financial damage. Strict enforcement reduces risk and cost.

Practical implementation

A strong safety culture starts with a clear footwear policy: when shoes are mandatory, who supplies and replaces them, and how compliance is checked.

Training matters too: workers should understand why safety shoes are needed and how to use them correctly.

Finally, inspection and maintenance belong in a safe workplace. Regular checks for wear and timely replacement help keep footwear compliant with safety standards.