At DODS, safety is a top priority – especially during move-ins and move-outs, when our backstage areas become busy, physical, and potentially hazardous. These events often involve lifting, shifting, handling heavy equipment, and navigating tight or cluttered spaces. Because of this, it’s important that everyone involved – crew and cast alike – wears footwear that offers proper protection.
Why It Matters
Foot injuries can happen easily in these environments. Something as minor as stubbing a toe on a flight case or as serious as stepping on a stray screw or nail can lead to painful and avoidable accidents. That’s why choosing the right shoes isn’t just a suggestion – it’s an essential part of staying safe.
What We Recommend
We strongly recommend that when taking part in move-ins and move-outs wears sensible, protective footwear. The best option is a pair of steel or composite toe-capped shoes or boots, which are specifically designed to protect your feet from impact and puncture risks.
They might not win any fashion awards – but they’ll do a far better job protecting your feet than your favorite pair of trainers ever could. Nobody enjoys a bruised toe, a trip to A&E, or hobbling around halfway through get-in. These shoes are a smart long-term investment – not just for DODS productions, but for any situation where foot protection matters.
They’re readily available from reputable retailers like Screwfix, B&Q, and specialist workwear suppliers. You’ll also find plenty of options on Amazon and eBay, but we recommend exercising a little bit of caution – stick to recognizable brands with good reviews, as the quality can vary quite a lot.
If you’re not opting for steel-toe footwear, then a high-quality walking boot with strong ankle support and a solid grip is the bare minimum we consider suitable. These offer far better protection and stability than everyday trainers or lightweight casual shoes, and are much more appropriate for the demands of a working backstage environment.
Footwear to Avoid
For your own safety – and the safety of those working around you – please avoid wearing the following types of footwear during move-ins and move-outs:
- Flip flops or sliders
- Crocs
- Lightweight canvas shoes (e.g., Converse, daps)
- Standard fashion trainers
These types of shoes offer little to no protection and significantly increase the risk of injury in a working backstage environment.
Need Help Choosing?
To make things easier, we’ve included links below to examples of the kind of footwear we recommend.
