['Personal Protective Equipment']
['Personal Protective Equipment']
12/29/2023
...
The employer must provide all personal protective equipment (PPE), with few exceptions, at no cost to the employee.
OSHA notes that when employees pay for their own PPE, they:
- Are likely to purchase the wrong equipment,
- May use the PPE beyond its expected service life, or
- May avoid purchasing the equipment at all.
- Are more likely to select the right PPE for the hazards present in their workplaces,
- Make sure the equipment is maintained and replaced as necessary, and
- Generally take more responsibility for PPE selection and use.
Scope
The employer payment rule affects most of OSHA’s PPE standards, including Parts:
- 29 CFR 1910 — General Industry,
- 29 CFR 1926 — Construction,
- 29 CFR 1915 — Shipyards,
- 29 CFR 1917 — Marine terminals, and
- 29 CFR 1918 — Longshoring.
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR 1910.132 — General requirements
- 29 CFR 1926.95 — Criteria for personal protective equipment
Key definitions
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): Any devices or clothing worn by the worker to protect against hazards in the environment. Examples are respirators, gloves, and chemical splash goggles.
Summary of requirements
Employers are required to:
- Provide PPE to the employee at no cost when an employer selects a specific type of PPE to be used at the workplace.
- Not pay for non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-toe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, provided that the employer permits such items to be worn off the jobsite.
- Pay for replacement PPE, except when the employee has lost or intentionally damaged the PPE.
- Allow an employee to provide adequate protective equipment he or she owns and is not required to reimburse the employee for that equipment.
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