The Technical Assistance Branch of the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) administers the NIH Safety Shoe Program. This program has been established to protect NIH employees from possible foot injuries due to occupational foot hazards. Any NIH employee who is at risk of foot injury on the job can obtain safety shoes upon approval of the individual's supervisor.  All safety shoes made available to NIH employees meet the general requirements for impact and compression resistance required by the ASTM Standard F2412-05.

Employees requiring safety footwear must bring a completed "Request for Safety Footwear, NIH-1980," to the DOHS Safety Shoe Program Manager in Building 13, Room 3K-04. This form must have the supervisor’s signature and indicate the type of shoe required by that particular employee. NIH employees are authorized to obtain a new pair of safety shoes when the current shoes are no longer serviceable (generally about every 12 months). Any medical conditions requiring special footwear for an individual must be documented by a private physician or by the NIH Occupational Medical Service. 

Safety shoes are purchased from two different vendors who come to the NIH campus.  One vendor's shoe truck comes on the first Wednesday of the month and the other on the third Wednesday of the month.  The shoe trucks are located at the Bldg. 13 loading dock from 1:00 -4:00 pm.  Employees requiring special footwear due to medical issues must have a medical issued documentation by a private physician and/or the Occupational Medical Service.