Are clog shoes allowed to be worn in a dry production area?

Hi all, 

As above mentioned, are clog shoes (besides rubber boots)  allowed to be worn in dry production area?  

As always, "it depends on risk" seems the most appropriate answer.

Shoes / clogs and boots serve both food safety and health and safety purposes so it's worth connecting with colleagues to talk this through and involving your team in the solution because if you get something uncomfortable you will really affect their wellbeing.

For areas with any wheeled movements, e.g. pallet trucks or even stacks of products on wheels, steel toe capped options generally are the best for a health and safety perspective (but obviously ask them).  You will also need to consider slip resistance depending on how wet surfaces are etc (remember even dry powders can be slippy) and within your shoe policy / process, make sure you have the ability to check and replace shoes when soles are worn.

For food safety, it depends a lot on if it's a high care area.  Most high care areas are wet so I'm assuming yours isn't, however, it is possible to have an ambient high care dry environment.

Generally the sensitivity of the product will drive the footwear but this doesn't necessarily mean wellies.  As long as the shoes you use are cleanable and regularly (minimum daily) cleaned, then there are cleanable clogs out there.  (We're not talking Crocs here but something steel toe capped, washable or wipeable and impervious).  These are then cleaned by a "boot fairy" (yep we call them that in the UK, i.e. someone who cleans all shoes or boots at least once a day). a low profile shoe washer, or I have heard of (but not seen) people using an industrial washer capable of washing them but obviously they'd need time to dry.  But you'd only need those options if it's high care or high risk.

If your product is not sensitive to microbiological contamination, e.g. if there are no barriers on entry, no other clothing changes, then you may be able to get away with just normal safety shoes.  Personally I don't see the point but some sites use dycem mats to limit any loose debris on soles but it obviously only touches the sole not the upper part of the shoe.  So unless you have a lot of loose dust etc, I don't personally see why.

Hope that's helpful?