A safety shoe including a steel toe box having an inwardly turned relatively wide flange, the flange having a larger width at two end portions and having a smaller width at a central portion, the flange having a gradually thinner thickness from the junction portion to the edge; a polyethylene liner for cooperating with the toe box; a U-shaped pad made of hardened material having a size and shape substantially matching with a size and shape of the flange of the steel toe box for supporting the steel toe box; and a middle sole having a U-shaped cutout for matching and retaining the U-shaped pad.