1.1 The principal purpose of this specification is the certification of protective footwear. Certification must be performed by independent third party laboratories in order for footwear to bear the ASTM marking.

1.2 The specification contains performance requirements for footwear to protect workers' feet from the following hazards by providing: (1) conductive properties (Cd) which reduce hazards that may result from static electricity buildup; and reduce the possibility of ignition of explosives and volatile chemicals; (2) electric hazard protection (EH), to protect the wearer from accidental contact by stepping on live electric wires; (3) static dissipative properties (SD) to reduce hazards due to excessively low footwear electrical resistance that may exist where SD footwear is required; (4) puncture resistance (PR) footwear devices.

1.3 This specification covers minimum requirements for the performance of footwear to provide protection against a variety of workplace hazards other than the toe area that can potentially result in injury.

1.4 This specification is not intended to serve as a detailed manufacturing or purchasing specification, but can be referenced in purchase contracts to ensure that minimum performance requirements are met.

1.5 Controlled laboratory tests used to determine compliance with the performance requirements of this specification shall not be deemed as establishing performance levels for all situations to which individuals may be exposed.

1.6 Any changes to the original components of safety footwear such as replacing or adding after market footbeds/inserts could cause failure to any or all parts of this specification rendering the ASTM Soft Toe Protective Footwear label invalid.

1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.