in some cases they do! a friend worked for a labour intensive job (X days on, Y days off) and they have a yearly use-it-or-lose-it allowance that he was allowed to claim expenses against for things like boots, jackets, safety gear, etc
things like tools (wrenches, drills, bits, etc) are separately supplied by the company per department/work area (sort of like hot desking in the office world) and stay with the company at all times
All drills, anything I've bought through tool allowances, and the such, I've kept.
I think it’s mostly just a matter of people’s feet varying in size so much it’s not worth the hassle to try and provide them directly or get them back after, because I’ve had uniform shirts and pants and things taken back, washed, and given to someone else… just never shoes.