OSHA Update – Personal Protective Equipment Standards (PPE)

OSHA’s Federal Register reported a final rule on employer-paid personal protective equipment (PPE). This rule clarifies with few exceptions, employers are to supply all PPE at no cost for employees. With this new rule, OSHA estimates 21,000 fewer injuries are expected per year.

“Employees exposed to safety and health hazards may need to wear personal protective equipment to be protected from injury, illness and death caused by exposure to those hazards,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. “This final rule will clarify who is responsible for paying for PPE, which OSHA anticipates will lead to greater compliance and potential avoidance of thousands of workplace injuries each year.”

An employer must meet specific requirements concerning “personal protective equipment” (PPE), such as gloves, goggles, hard hats, face shields, ear muffs, etc. The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health offers some basic PPE Tips and PPE regulations from :

The PPE regulation (also known as a standard) covers all private-sector workers in general industry who are exposed to hazardous processes, conditions, and toxic substances. There are additional standards that cover different specialized types of PPE. Similar and separate PPE standards cover construction, shipyard, maritime and longshore workers.

Related safety training products for Personal Protective Equipment
PPE Personal Protective Equipment Training Materials
HAZWOPER Personal Protective Equipment Video Program DVD