OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) recently issued a directive that provides enforcement personnel with instructions for determining whether employers have complied with OSHA’s PPE standards. The Enforcement Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment in General Industry was effective February 10, 2011.
This directive updates an earlier guideline. It clarifies what type of PPE an employer must provide at no cost to employees and when the worker is required to pay for PPE.
The PPE standards require employers to provide – at no cost to workers – protective equipment that meets current standards, such as:
- Goggles and faceshields that fit properly without restricting vision
- Earplugs and earmuffs when they reduce the noice to acceptable levels (and engineering controls are too costly.)
- Respirators to protect workers from exposure to air contaminants
The new directive also lists PPE and other items that are exempt from the employer payment requirement. It includes questions and answers that are helpful to clarify PPE payment concerns. The guidance can be downloaded by visiting OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics page on Personal Protective Equipment .
Call our Safety Products Specialists for assistance selecting PPE to meet the new guidelines at 800-826-8302 or visit our website, www.nelsonjameson.com.
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