CSA’s Protective Footwear Standard has been around for more than forty years. In the early 70’s, the familiar “green patch” was introduced – representing footwear having the highest level of toe and sole protection. In the 80’s, CSA added electric-shock resistance and metatarsal guards to the Standard. In the 90’s, static dissipative and conductive footwear were added. In 2002, we widened the Standard to include chain saw protective boots. Now with the 2009 edition of CSA-Z195, we have expanded the scope of the Standard to include slip-resistant (or slip-resisting) footwear. A test procedure based on a European standard has been agreed to by the footwear industry, and requirements have been set for the communication (labeling) of slip-resistance performance data on all safety footwear claiming to be “slip resistant”, “slip resisting”, or “anti-slip”.

Also new to this edition are performance requirements and an impact test procedure for metatarsal (top-of-the-foot) guards.

The release of this expanded Standard is an important step forward in the protection of Canadian workers. In the coming year, if a protective footwear product is certified as or claims to be CSA compliant, its metatarsal guards and its slip-resistant soles must be tested to the updated Standard.

Copies of the English-version of CSA-Z195-09 are available (in hardcopy and electronic form) from CSA’s On-line Store at www.shopcsa.ca or by calling our Sales Desk at: 1-800-463-6727. The French version of Z195-09 will be available in March, 2010.