If you have a client who wants you to wear steel toed boots regardless of the fact that it makes no sense, here's somewhere to direct them:
"A worker in the logging industry walking on logs or on steep sidehills or uneven ground will generally not wear safety-toed footwear. Note section 8.23(2) of the Regulation requires "Caulked, or other equally effective footwear must be worn by workers who are required to walk on logs, poles, pilings or other round timbers.")"
http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications ... rtID=21865
Basically Worksafe is telling us that steep sidehills and uneven ground (i.e. most tree planting environments) means that you don't need Steel Toes.
Came across this looking for something else and thought I'd share.