Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA's) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 29 Occupational Foot Protection (1910.136). "Each affected employee shall wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards." Appendix B to subpart I identifies the following occupations for which foot protection should be routinely considered: shipping and receiving clerks, stock clerks, carpenters, electricians, machinists, mechanics and repairers, plumbers, assemblers, drywall installers and lathers, packers, wrappers, craters, punch and stamping press operators, sawyers, welders, laborers, freight handlers, gardeners and grounds keepers, timber cutting and logging workers, stock handlers and warehouse laborers

The ASTM F2413-05 standard covers minimum requirements for the design, performance, testing and classification of protective footwear. Footwear certified as meeting ASTM F2413-05 must first meet the requirements of Section 5.1 "Impact Resistant Footwear" and Section 5.2 "Compression Resistant Footwear". Then the requirements of additional sections such as metatarsal protection, conductive protection, electric shock protection, static dissipative protection and protection against punctures can be met. Protective footwear can meet all the requirements of the ASTM standard or specific elements of it, as long as it first meets the requirements for impact and compression resistance.

The original steel-toed safety boot currently being issued is heavy and cumbersome. Composite-toe safety boots are lighter than steel-toe boots. Composite-toe Safety boots significantly improves protection from heat and cold while allowing the Combat Service Support Soldiers to work more efficiently and with less exertion supporting the force.