The safest course—Check the safety shoes for leaks

A leak can undermine the ability of safety footwear to keep water or harmful chemicals from reaching the foot, and replacement, "is the safest course." That's also the view of the National Safety Council, which recommends discarding leather or rubber safety shoes when cracks or punctures appear. Something important to look for when evaluating the fitness of a rubber safety shoe or boot is the presence of cuts, cracks or punctures on the footwear, which could cause leaking.

There are two ways to test a rubber shoe or boot for leaks, and neither is terribly scientific. They are detailed here. buy cheap safety shoes

Method1: Line the inside of the shoe with a paper towel or cloth. Place a heavy object on top of the towel or cloth to hold it in place. Fill a bucket with water so that the water level only is a few inches from the top of the shoe. (Do not let the water overflow into the opening at the top of the shoe.) Leave the shoe in the bucket overnight. The next day, take out the paper towel or cloth. If it is damp, there is a leak. Method 2: Remove the shoe's insole and fill the shoe with water. Place the high quality working shoes on a newspaper and look for leaks. The disadvantage to this method is that once the test is complete, the boot needs time to dry before it can be worn again.

However, in cases in which exposure to hazardous chemicals is not an issue, patching the shoe with a rubber or PVC patch kit could be an option. Such kits are readily available at shoe retailers or the shoe section of stores such as Wal-Mart or wholesale working gloves.