Washington – An OSHA final rule that requires personal protective equipment in the construction industry to properly fit every worker goes into effect on January 11th.
Scheduled for publication on December 12, the regulation aligns 1926.95 with the PPE requirements in OSHA's General Industrial and Marine Standards. For example, 1910.132(d)(1)(iii) requires employers to “select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.”
Currently, 1926.95(c) requires that PPE only be “of safe design and construction for the work to be performed.”
“Incorrectly sized PPE can be ineffective in protecting workers; New dangers arise for the employee, e.g. B. when oversized gloves or protective clothing get caught in machines. and discourage use due to discomfort or poor fit,” OSHA said in a Dec. 11 press release. “The matter has long been a safety concern in the industry, particularly for some women and physically smaller or larger workers.”
OSHA released its proposed rule on the upcoming requirements in July 2023. The agency does not expect the change to “increase costs for employers or compliance burdens.”
“I have spoken with construction workers, particularly women, who have spoken of personal protective equipment that did not fit or was simply not available in its size on the job site,” OSHA Chief Doug Parker said in the news release. “PPE needs to fit properly to work. I am proud of the broad support from both employers and unions for OSHA’s efforts to make clear that employers must provide the proper PPE to every worker who needs it.”