According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it’s the employer’s responsibility to make sure that employees use protective footwear in an area where there is a risk of foot injuries due to several factors. In this case, the steel toe work boots need to comply with ANSI or ASTM safety standards in order to be qualified as protective footwear.
Therefore, if steel toe work boots are mandatory at your workplace, you will most likely be officially notified.
You can also choose to wear steel toe boots in work environments where it is not mandatory if you want extra safety. A steel toe can protect your feet from impacts caused by forklifts, concrete block, nails, and any other sharp or heavy object.
If you want work boots for durability and resistance, not necessarily for protection, you don’t need a steel toe, and soft toe work boots are more appropriate.