OSHA Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Standard

In accordance with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.132, Personal Protective Equipment shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition.

Personal Protective Equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers are required to be used wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation, or physical contact.

There are specific types of Personal Protective Equipment that the employee may be required to wear while preforming a specific job task. Examples of Personal Protection Equipment include:

  • Hard Hats
  • Safety Glasses
  • Safety Goggles
  • Face Shields
  • Welding Helmets
  • Ear Plugs
  • Ear Muffs
  • Dust Masks
  • Air-purifying Respirators
  • Chemical-resistant Gloves
  • Cut-resistant Gloves
  • Leather Gloves
  • Rubber-insulated Gloves
  • Steel-toe Footwear
  • Coveralls
  • Protective Chaps

Employers must conform to the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment Standard, which includes:

  • A certified site-specific workplace hazard assessment designed to identify hazardous job tasks in the workplace and determine what Personal Protective Equipment is required;
  • Providing the required Personal Protective Equipment to all affected employees; and,
  • Training to all employees who are required to utilize Personal Protective Equipment. The training requirements, as outlined in OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.132 through OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.140, include:
    • when PPE is required;
    • what PPE is required;
    • how to properly put on, take off, adjust, and wear the PPE;
    • the limitations of the PPE; and
    • the proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE.

EDMC Safety and Health offers a compliance program to bring your organization into conformity with the required elements of the OSHA Personal Protective Equipment standard.

Contact EDMC Safety & Health

OSHA-compliant programs, training, and consulting