Who has to pay for safety shoes (Sicherheitsschuhe) at work in Germany?

Answer:
The employer is legally obliged to bear the full cost of safety shoes (Sicherheitsschuhe) if they are required due to occupational safety regulations, legal provisions or company rules.

Legal details

Legal basis:

Under Section 3 of the German Occupational Health and Safety Act (§ 3 Arbeitsschutzgesetz – ArbSchG) and the regulations of the statutory accident insurance (Berufsgenossenschaft), all personal protective equipment (PPE) – such as safety shoes, helmets, gloves, etc. – is the responsibility of the employer.

This includes:

• purchasing the safety shoes,

• as well as their maintenance and replacement if they are worn out or damaged by work.

The employee may not be charged

• The employer may not deduct any amount from the salary and may not require the employee to buy the safety shoes at their own expense if these are required for safety reasons.

• Even if both parties verbally agree that the employee will pay for the shoes, such an agreement is not legally valid if the shoes are required for occupational safety.

Special cases

• If the employee wants a specific brand, design or higher comfort level that goes beyond the company’s protective requirements or the standard model provided, the employer can:

  • set a maximum price, or

  • provide a basic model and allow the employee to pay the difference in price if they choose a more expensive brand.

Conclusion

• The employer is legally obliged to pay for all safety shoes required for the job.

• This also includes replacing the shoes when they are worn out or damaged due to work.

• If you are asked to pay for them yourself, you have the right to object and to claim reimbursement of the amount.

Practical advice

If your employer refuses to pay:

• Ask for the decision in writing,

• then consult:

  • your works council (Betriebsrat), if there is one,

  • a trade union,

  • or the responsible Berufsgenossenschaft (statutory accident insurance body) to have your rights checked.

Our team of writers and editors strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors may occur or some information may be incomplete or not definitively confirmed. Therefore, please treat the information in our articles as an initial point of reference and always contact the relevant authorities or professional bodies to obtain binding and official information.