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safety shoes
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Policy states that all employees in the machine shop need to wear safety boots. One employee has foot problems, so he states that he can not wear steel toed boots. The manager enforces the rule and wr
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Forums » Topic Forums » General Forum » safety shoes
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safety shoes
posted at 4/2/2009 4:29 AM EDT
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Posts: 118
First: 2/28/2008 Last: 7/29/2011 |
Policy states that all employees in the machine shop need to wear safety boots. One employee has foot problems, so he states that he can not wear steel toed boots. The manager enforces the rule and writes him up for not wearing the boots. The next few days the employee comes in and is wearing the boots but obviously having trouble walking.
If the employee is able to provide a doctor's note that he can not wear the appropriate shoes, would the company have to accommodate that? Could they then be fined by OSHA for not upholding their own safety standards? |
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safety shoes
posted at 4/2/2009 5:00 AM EDT
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Posts: 79
First: 12/20/2004 Last: 2/17/2011 |
There are so many different types of safety shoes out there that there is no reason you cannot find appropriate shoes for this employee. They make safety shoes that are almost like a sneaker and I even had a pair once that were dress heels with a bump toe. You may have to work with the employee on this and get find out why the safety shoe is creating a problem. |
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safety shoes
posted at 4/2/2009 6:53 AM EDT
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Posts: 118
First: 2/28/2008 Last: 7/29/2011 |
"There are so many different types of safety shoes out there that there is no reason YOU cannot find appropriate shoes for this employee."
I don't find safety shoes for employees. I simply reimburse money for safety shoes. The employees find their own safety shoes. When we get into the business of having to find appropriate safety shoes for employees, we will need to hire a full time person to do it. The person has seen a licensed podiatrist who simply wrote a note saying they can't wear the prescribed footwear. I don't want the company to be in jeopardy if he gets hurt not wearing them, or for violating some kind of reasonable accomodation. |
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safety shoes
posted at 4/2/2009 8:00 AM EDT
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Posts: 19
First: 2/13/2008 Last: 7/27/2009 |
Might cause less stress for all involved if you consider your naming and definition policies. Requiring "safety shoes" is different than requiring "steel-toed shoes."
I definitely appreciate your concern about taking responsibility for locating safety shoes for all employees, I wonder how onerous it would be to do a little looking online or in a catalog for alternatives to steel-toed shoes - then the employee can still purchase them and be reimbursed. |
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safety shoes
posted at 4/2/2009 10:08 AM EDT
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Posts: 79
First: 12/20/2004 Last: 2/17/2011 |
That was what we did. We had a list of on line sites and some catalogs for the employees to use if they wanted. Most sites that sell shoes have VERY easy return policies so having to try them on is not much of an issue. |
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