To make it madatory or to keep it recommendatory -- A socialist dilemma

I often think if we have ever debated over the mandate on Safety Shoes, the Hand Gloves, and so. It is important that we begin to appreciate why people resist / may resist any attempt to make mandatory any of these 'safety gears'. 

1) I think that one broad classification of reasoning will be that 'safety gears' hinder the body movements of the person to whom it has promised to give protection. In many situations, such restriction on his body movements may work to the disadvantage of the person. 

2) Marine piloting will require person to be as much light as is possible to aid the climbing of the ladders and the gangway stairs. 

3) The piloting company may see a cost on the maintenance of the equipment. Believe me, in the socialist models of the business, there are the Government Clerks sitting as the bosses of the company, and not well informed on the industrial practices. I can tell you, there are Government clerks as the boss who are debating why piloting is essential to ships , why can't we waive off the piloting !! 

4) In socialist models, the fact that there is a mandate on a safety item is exploited and abused as per convenience. For example, a person maybe warned/admonished for not 'obeying' the mandate 'repeatedly' even if he has some reasons -- genuine or not (which again debatable) . His career tracks records may thus be marred through such warning/admonishments. The inter-personal relations may be damaged in his work space. In fact, the compensations and insurances maybe altered in some extreme situations, under the cover of the fact that there was a mandate, which the victim had not properly obeyed. This logic should give us a prudence that the lesser we have item as mandatory, the better it is --from a legal prudence point of view. 

5) There are some sound technical reasons for the resistance to certain safety-gears. For example, a Helmet with a 'P" may block the view of the pilot while climbing up or down the ladder. 

5a) A safety shoe, it may obstruct swimming action , if the pilot has fallen in the water and is in urgent need to push himself away from the propellers. 
5b) A Helmet, when tightly wrapped over the head, oftentimes blocks the hearing ability. 

In summary, I think the question is whether to make mandatory , or to work by mere recommendation. And we should be clear on this.