Abstract. Introduction. Work in low temperatures can lead to both general and local cooling of the human body. Local cooling of the distal parts of the legs can limit the motor activity of the employee even with sufficient thermal insulation of the body general surface. Therefore, the use of an additional heat source in special shoes (autonomous electric heating system (AEHS)) can compensate heat losses in the distal parts of the legs and provide thermal comfort in conditions of low temperatures throughout the work. The purpose of the study: physiological and hygienic assessment of the additional heat sources (AEHS) influence on the thermal insulation of special shoes in conditions of low temperatures. Materials and methods. To assess the heat-protective properties of the special shoes experimental sample with an AEHS, a heat flux density and skin temperature meter ITP-MG 4.03/30 "POTOK" (LLC SKB Stroypribor, Chelyabinsk) was used. The presented sample was tested with the participation of 5 volunteers in three modes of autonomous electric heating in a microclimatic chamber for 60 minutes for each mode separately. The average air temperature in the chamber during the study was 2.5±0.5 °C. Based on the obtained data, the thermal insulation of special shoes with an AEHS was calculated. Results. The thermal insulation of the special shoes experimental sample without electric heating was 0.460±0.013 °C m2/W; and 0.512±0.01 and 0.549±0.01 °C m2/W using the minimum and medium electric heating modes-, respectively, which allows us to recommend the presented sample of special shoes with an autonomous electric heating system for work in a "Special" climatic zone when performing moderate-severity work. The thermal insulation of a special shoes sample with the maximum electric heating mode was 0.615±0.01 °C m2/W, which makes it possible to work with it in the IV climatic zone. Conclusions. The use of an AEHS increases the thermal insulation of special shoes, which provides sufficient protection for the distal parts of the legs, allows to expand the scope of its operation in strict compliance with the work and rest regime and can be a prevention of the occupational diseases development in workers at low temperatures.