Riggers Boots – are they banned on Construction Sites?

I was recently investigated a claim that Rigger Boots are banned on Construction Sites. This is an interesting and lively area for debate on various internet forums.

I can confirm that there is no blanket ban on the use of Rigger Boots on construction sites. There is, nevertheless, substantial anecdotal evidence that many sites have chosen to impose their own bans on the use of Rigger Boots.

There is also a history of accidents and incidents that have been attributed to the lack of ankle support offered by various designs of boots, including rigger boots. Many contractors will be faced with the scenario of sites that have banned the use of Rigger Boots.

Basically, if a client chooses to ban Rigger Boots from their sites, then you will need to comply with their wishes. Further to this, if this is a common occurrence, then it may be in your interests to look into sensible alternatives in a proactive manner.

As far as an assessment of PPE is concerned, then the use of steel toe cap boots (including Rigger Boots) should be assessed against the conditions expected or found on the site. Rigger boots tend to lead to problems on loose ground where the lack of ankle support can become an issue (as can be seen in the section below from the HSE website).

The HSE website had some sueful information on their FAQ on Construction Sites.

Over recent years rigger boots have become popular because they are easy to put on and are a cross between lace up boots and Wellingtons. However some companies have found that wearers of rigger boots are much more likely to suffer twisted or sprained ankle injuries.

They think this is because rigger boots are a looser fit and the wearer is less able to prevent the foot from twisting to the side on uneven ground. This is the reason that some contractors will not allow them on site.

This is an acceptable argument and you need to understand and comply with this rule. Lace up boots are not normally suitable for licensed asbestos work within an enclosure. There is a history of cement burns where cement has gone into the safety shoe or boots and Wellington boots may provide more protection for groundwork using cement.