World-wide epidemiological studies provide evidence that the employment in the shoe production and repair plants is associated with an enhanced risk for cancer (primarily nose and nasal sinuses). According to the majority of authors, it is induced by exposure to leather dust. It is also known that, leather dust particles contain numerous chemicals acquired during the process of leather tanning and finishing (chromium salts, vegetable dye extracts, mineral oils). Some of these compounds exert carcinogenic effect. This paper provides a review of the results of epidemiological studies on health effects of exposure to harmful factors present mainly at the footwear production and repair. These results reveal an enhanced risk for cancer of nose or nasal sinuses induced by leather dust, as well as neoplasms of hematopoietic and lymphatic systems, resulting from exposure to solvents (mostly benzene). Among non-neoplasms, diseases of the musculoskeletal system associated with ergonomic factors, contact dermatics, chronic pulmonary diseases and damage of peripheral nerves in solvent-exposed workers are diagnosed.