Most industrial sites in Ontario will not let you past the door without proper safety footwear. Here is what you actually need — and what your employer or agency should provide.
The boots: what to buy
Look for CSA-certified footwear with the green triangle patch — that means a Grade 1 protective toe and puncture-resistant sole, the standard for warehouses, manufacturing, and construction. Expect to pay $100-$200; mid-priced boots from a work-wear store outlast cheap ones by years. Waterproofing is worth it if you will work docks or yards.
What you supply vs. what they supply
- You: safety boots, and usually your own work pants and layers.
- The employer: site-specific PPE — hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, high-vis vests, gloves, respirators where required. Ontario employers must provide and maintain equipment the job requires.
Small things veterans always bring
- Insoles — concrete floors for eight hours are a different sport.
- Two pairs of work socks; swap at lunch in hot months.
- A layer system for unheated warehouses: docks are cold in January and brutal in July.
Before your first placement with us
Your recruiter will tell you exactly what the site requires — never guess. If a posting requires equipment you do not have, say so; we would rather solve it than have you turned away at the gate.
Gear sorted? Find your next shift — most of our roles supply all PPE beyond boots.