Short answer: An EH (Electrical Hazard) rating means a work boot is built to provide a secondary layer of protection if you accidentally contact a live electrical circuit. If you work around energized equipment — electricians, oilfield hands, utility and powerline crews, and many industrial and maintenance roles — you want EH-rated boots. They're widely required on Oklahoma job sites and a smart default for most field work.
What does an EH rating actually mean?
EH-rated footwear is tested under the ASTM F2413 standard to provide protection against accidental contact with open electrical circuits. To earn an EH rating, the sole and heel must withstand exposure to 18,000 volts at 60 Hz for one minute, with leakage current not exceeding 1.0 milliampere, under dry laboratory conditions.
In plain terms: if you step on a live wire or contact an energized surface, EH-rated soles are designed to reduce the chance of completing a circuit through your body to the ground. It's a real, tested layer of protection.
"Secondary protection" — read this part
This is the most important and most misunderstood point. An EH rating is a backup, not a license to work hot. It does not replace proper lockout/tagout, insulated tools, gloves, or training. Its protection also has limits:
- It's rated for dry conditions. Water, sweat, and wet ground all conduct electricity and reduce protection.
- It degrades with wear. Worn-down soles, embedded metal shavings, or punctures compromise the rating.
- It protects the sole-and-heel path only — not contact through your hands, tools, or other surfaces.
Treat EH boots as the seatbelt, not as a reason to drive carelessly.
Who needs EH-rated boots?
- Electricians and electrical apprentices — almost always required.
- Oilfield and field crews — energized equipment is everywhere on a lease, and EH is a common site requirement.
- Utility, lineman, and power-plant workers.
- Industrial maintenance, plant, and manufacturing roles near motors, panels, and machinery.
If you're not sure, check your employer's PPE policy — many Oklahoma industrial and oilfield sites mandate EH-rated footwear at the gate.
EH vs. SD vs. conductive — don't mix them up
These ratings sound similar but do different jobs:
- EH (Electrical Hazard) — resists current flow to protect you from shock. What most field workers want.
- SD (Static Dissipative) — controls static by allowing a small, safe amount of charge to drain. Used where static could ignite something or damage electronics.
- Conductive (CD) — deliberately allows charge to flow to ground. Used in specific environments like explosives handling. This is the opposite of EH — never substitute one for the other.
For general protection against accidental shock, EH is the rating you're looking for.
Frequently asked questions
Are EH boots required by OSHA?
OSHA requires employers to protect workers from electrical hazards and to assess PPE needs; many employers meet that by mandating EH footwear. The specific requirement comes from your employer's hazard assessment and site policy.
Do EH boots wear out?
Yes. The protection lives in the sole and heel — once they're worn thin, cracked, or full of metal debris, the rating no longer holds. Inspect them and replace worn boots.
Can I get EH protection with a composite toe?
Yes. EH is about the sole, so you can get EH-rated boots in steel toe, composite toe, or soft toe. Composite-toe EH boots are popular because they add no metal near your foot.
Does waterproof matter for EH?
EH is rated for dry conditions, so working in the wet reduces its effectiveness regardless. Waterproof construction keeps your feet dry but doesn't change the EH rating itself.
Nearly every work boot brand we carry — Ariat, Twisted X, Red Wing, Thorogood, Carhartt — offers EH-rated options. Come into our Elk City store and we'll match you to an EH boot with the right toe and sole for your job. Browse work boots and safety toe boots.