Do your company have to pay for safety boots?

Question

I work around quad bikes as a full time job yet my company say i have to buy my own safety boots. Is this correct?

Answer 1

My last employer covered the first $195 and it cost me $20 out of my pocket for my Red Wind boots. The company I work for today covers the first $85 but, if you had not purchased boots/shoes for 2 years or more, they'll double that about to $170. At $170 though you'll sign a paper stating the company has the right to withhold that $170 from your last check if you quit within 90 days, if you get discharged the company is out the $170 and you lost your job.

Answer 2

I would say that your employer has a legal obligtion to supply you with the correct safety footwear.

Your job should have been risk assesed and if found that there is a sufficient safety risk then they should supply boots or other means of safety equipment to protect you from whatever risks are posed.

The health and safety at work act should also be referred to

The only loophole may be if you work for another comapany while working within their grounds / premisis.But again whoever is the employer should foot the bill . Pardon the pun.

Answer 3

It depends on the company, though often if you have to buy your own shoes they will give you a small amount of money on your wages to equate to the cost of buying then replacing over time.

£1 a week or something of this order so you can chose when you want to replace the safety footwear and with what style and quality.

It seems silly as quite often you will be required to have the safety footwear to be allowed to work, the company employed you because they want you to work for them, though without safety equipment won't allow you through the door.

This is common practice in the building trade where you need your own person safety qualifications and safety equipment to work on a site.

Answer 4

Aces n eights has got it spot on if you're working in the UK.
My industry provides all personal protective equipment (PPE). It will even supply custom fitted earplugs and prescrption safety glasses.
The only time a company won't is if you are self employed.
So you should have provided safety eyeware, earplugs/ ear defenders, coveralls (flame retardent), Safety boots/shoes, gloves where nescessary, knee protectors if working off the floor, respiratory masks suitable for the tasks and other PPE as nescessary for material handling such as defined by COSHH data sheets.
If your employer is in breach of HASAWA, the Health and Safety executive can be contacted anonymously.
check out;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/index.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm
An employer also cannot charge you for boots they have supplied.
ie;
Duty not to charge employees for things done or provided pursuant to certain specific requirements.
9. No employer shall levy or permit to be levied on any employee of his any charge in respect of anything done or provided in pursuance of any specific requirement of the relevant statutory provisions.

Answer 5

If the company policy is that you must have safety boots, then it's up to them to pay for them. See your Health and Safety representative, you must have one by law.

Answer 6

no, under health and safety at work act if the safety boots are required by law your company is required to provide them free of charge

Answer 7

Depends on many factors.
Where you work, and what their policy is. They are not required to by law, that I know of. I have worked places they were needed, yet not provided. I have worked in non-union places where they were needed, and the company provided an allowance. Where I currently work, they are required and the company pays an allowance as provided for in the union contract.

In other words, No. If they say you need to buy them, you do.

Answer 8

Yes. I work in a union shop and we wear safety shoes. It has just been our last few contracts that we have negotiated the company paying some on our shoes.It is terms of your employment or you can look for another job.

Answer 9

If you live in the uk then boots would be classed as PPE personal protective equipment, which your employer MUST supply.
If he wants to argue the toss give the health and safety executive a bell, they'll put him straight.

Answer 10

I don't think they will pay in full, but if you are required to wear safety boots, then they usually pay for most of it, but if you wanted to get really nice ones then you usually pay the difference.