The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a new final rule that requires employers to provide all workers with all personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary—with a few exceptions—to comply with OSHA’s standards. OSHA says the rule will result in 21,000 fewer occupational injuries each year.
According to the rule, employees are not responsible for paying for required PPE. Exceptions to the rule include ordinary safety-toe footwear, ordinary prescription safety eyewear, logging boots, and other ordinary everyday wear and gear.
The rule also includes clarifications to OSHA’s requirements regarding employee-owned PPE and replacement PPE. Employers are not required to reimburse employees for PPE they own and choose to use, and use of employee-owned PPE must remain voluntary. But employers are required to ensure the employee’s PPE provides adequate protection.
The rule was published in the Federal Register Nov. 15, 2007; enforcement will begin May 15, 2008, six months from its date of publication. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
