BOSTON -- They are popular, and many people say Crocs sandals are great when you're on your feet all day long. That's why many in the medical profession swear by them.

NewsCenter 5's Jim Boyd reported that some hospitals in other states are putting them off limits.

"They're very comfortable. They're much better than sneakers. Your feet are -- there's much more air going through," hospital worker Kathy Keady said.

Dozens of people were wearing them in the Longwood Medical area, but in Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, Crocs, specifically with holes in the top, are banned.

"We've caught people by surprise, a little bit, because they are so popular, and they are marketed to nurses," Mercy Hospital's Sharon Krystofiak said.

Officials at Mercy worry that sharp objects -- a needle, syringe or scalpel -- could fall and puncture the skin.

"We've always said clinical care employees couldn't wear open-toed shoes, just want to protect their feet from accidental exposure," Krystofiak said.

There was no medical facility in Boston with a policy banning Croc-type shoes, and some said if such a ban were ordered, they would comply.

"I would change my shoes. It's just like being implemented to wear any kind of uniform. If you can't wear them, you can't wear them," physical therapist Meghan Delaney said.

The Pittsburgh hospital allows Crocs with solid tops are fine. The idea may not have hit Boston yet, but some feel it has merit.

"They're really comfortable. But I can totally understand what they mean. Safety precautions, you know," another worker said.