Personal protective equipment requirements

An employer must provide PPE whenever hazards exist that could cause injury by absorption, inhalation, or physical contact. Employers are required to "provide, use, and maintain" protective equipment wherever needed because of process, environmental, chemical, radiological, or mechanical hazards under 1910.132(a).

• Examples of covered hazards include airborne contaminants, hazardous chemicals, falling or flying objects, and surfaces that can cause burns or cuts.
• Make the assessment practical: if a hazard can cause impairment or injury to any part of the body, PPE must be provided.

Under 1910.132(b) the employer is responsible for assuring that employee-owned PPE is adequate, properly maintained, and sanitary. The employer must verify that any employee-provided equipment used to meet workplace hazards is suitable for the hazard, is kept in safe working condition, and is cleaned as needed per 1910.132(b).

• Practical steps: inspect employee-owned PPE before use, keep records of inspections if part of your program, and provide cleaning or replacement if the equipment is not adequate.

Under 1910.132(c) PPE supplied by the employer must be of safe design and construction for the work to be performed. In other words, select PPE built and constructed to protect against the specific hazards employees face, and avoid improvised or substandard equipment (1910.132(c).

• This means buying PPE from reputable manufacturers, ensuring the PPE meets applicable consensus standards, and confirming the PPE design is appropriate for the task and intended exposure.

Under 1910.132(d)(1) the employer must assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present or likely to be present and, if so, select and require the use of PPE that protects affected employees. The employer must also communicate selection decisions and ensure PPE properly fits each employee (1910.132(d)(1).

• Use a written or documented hazard assessment that identifies tasks, associated hazards, and the PPE chosen.
• Communicate to employees which PPE was selected and why, and verify fit and comfort to ensure effective protection.
• Note: Non-mandatory Appendix B contains an example hazard assessment procedure employers may follow.

Under 1910.132(d)(1)(i) employers must select PPE types that will protect employees from hazards identified in the hazard assessment. Choose PPE specifically matched to the hazard (for example, chemical-resistant gloves for chemical exposure or ANSI-rated helmets for falling-object risk) (1910.132(d)(1)(i).

• Consider the hazard’s nature, duration, and intensity when choosing materials and protection levels.
• Where industry or consensus standards apply (e.g., eye protection or hard hats), select PPE that meets those standards.

Under 1910.132(d)(1)(ii) employers must inform affected employees which PPE was selected and why, so employees understand the required protection. Communication can be verbal, written, or by training, and should explain the hazards, the selected PPE, and how to use it (1910.132(d)(1)(ii).

• Practical methods: toolbox talks, written postings, labels, or inclusion in job hazard analyses.
• Provide the rationale (e.g., "use chemical splash goggles because of risk of eye exposure to corrosive liquids").

Under 1910.132(d)(1)(iii) employers must select PPE that properly fits each affected employee. Proper fit is essential so PPE provides its intended protection and does not create additional hazards (1910.132(d)(1)(iii).

• For example, respirators require fit testing under 1910.134 and protective clothing should allow movement without exposing skin.
• Document the fitting process (sizes issued, adjustments made) especially for PPE where fit affects effectiveness.

Under 1910.132(d)(2) the employer must verify the hazard assessment was performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying the evaluation; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment (1910.132(d)(2).

• The certification does not need to include the full assessment details, but it must clearly name the evaluated area, the certifier, and the date.
• Keep the certification on file as evidence that the workplace evaluation occurred.

Under 1910.132(e) defective or damaged PPE must not be used. Employers must remove such equipment from service and repair or replace it to ensure employee safety (1910.132(e).

• Practical actions: establish inspection procedures, tag out damaged PPE, and keep replacement supplies available.

Under 1910.132(f)(1) PPE training must cover when PPE is necessary; what PPE is necessary; how to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE; the limitations of the PPE; and the proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE (1910.132(f)(1)).

• Include hands-on demonstrations for donning and doffing.
• Provide written or pictorial instructions for care and maintenance for easy reference.

Yes. Under 1910.132(f)(2) each affected employee must demonstrate understanding of the training and the ability to use PPE properly before being allowed to perform work that requires PPE (1910.132(f)(2).

• Use return demonstrations, quizzes, or supervised practice to verify comprehension and skills.
• Document the demonstration and the date it was completed.

Under 1910.132(f)(3) retraining is required when the employer has reason to believe a trained employee no longer understands or can properly use required PPE. Triggers include workplace changes, changes in PPE types, or observed inadequacies in PPE use (1910.132(f)(3).

• Examples: introducing a new chemical requiring different gloves, moving employees to a work area with new hazards, or observed misuse of PPE.
• Retraining should focus on the changed topic and include re-demonstration of skills.

Under 1910.132(g) paragraphs (d) (hazard assessment) and (f) (training) apply only to the specific PPE standards listed: 1910.133 (eye and face protection), 1910.135 (head protection), 1910.136 (foot protection), 1910.138 (hand protection), and 1910.140 (personal fall protection systems) (1910.132(g).

• For other PPE types with separate standards (for example, respirators under 1910.134), follow the requirements in those specific standards.

Under 1910.132, paragraphs (d) and (f) do not apply to respirators covered by 1910.134 because paragraph 4 of the standard explicitly excludes 1910.134 from those provisions. Employers must follow the respirator-specific requirements in 1910.134 for hazard assessment, fit testing, training, and medical evaluation.

Under 1910.132(h)(1) employers must provide protective equipment used to comply with this part at no cost to employees, except as provided in the specific exceptions listed in paragraphs (h)(2) through (h)(6) (1910.132(h)(1)).

• Keep in mind the listed exceptions (e.g., some non-specialty footwear) when determining which items the employer may not be required to pay for.

Under 1910.132(h)(2) the employer is not required to pay for non-specialty safety-toe footwear (such as steel-toe shoes or boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear provided the employer allows those items to be worn off the job-site (1910.132(h)(2).

• "Non-specialty" means the item is general-purpose and can be used away from work (e.g., standard safety-toe boots workers would also wear to and from the job).
• If the footwear or eyewear is specialized for the job and not suitable for off-site wear, the employer must provide it.

Under 1910.132(h)(4)(i) an employer is not required to pay for logging boots required by 1910.266(d)(1)(v). That specific exception says the employer does not have to pay for those logging boots (1910.132(h)(4)(i).

• This is a narrow, standard-specific exception—other PPE still generally must be provided at no cost unless another exception applies.

Under 1910.132(h)(5) the employer must pay for replacement PPE, except when the employee has lost the PPE or intentionally damaged it (1910.132(h)(5).

• Practical guidance: establish a process for reporting lost or damaged PPE and determine responsibility when misuse is suspected.

Under 1910.132(h)(6) if an employee provides adequate protective equipment that meets the employer’s requirements (per paragraph (b)), the employer may allow its use and is not required to reimburse the employee. However, the employer may not require employees to supply their own PPE unless it is an item excepted by paragraphs (h)(2) through (h)(5) (1910.132(h)(6) and 1910.132(b).

• Even when employee-owned PPE is allowed, the employer must assure its adequacy, maintenance, and sanitation.

Yes. The note to 1910.132(d)(1) explains that the non-mandatory Appendix B contains an example of procedures that would comply with the hazard assessment requirement. Using Appendix B’s example is a practical way to design a compliant hazard assessment, though it is not mandatory.

• Use Appendix B as guidance when developing a written hazard assessment and selection process.

Yes. If crane operators have a potential to be struck by falling objects, employers must provide and require head protection. OSHA’s head protection standard at 1910.135(a)(1) applies when there is potential for head injury, and the OSHA Letter of Interpretation "Head protection for crane operators" confirms that working near overhead hazards (including lifting loads with cranes or hoists) requires protective helmets (see Original URL: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-06-06-2).

• The employer must assess hazards under 1910.132(d)(1) and, when needed, provide helmets that meet applicable ANSI standards per 1910.135(b)(1).

Under 1910.132(g) the employer must follow the hazard assessment and training requirements of paragraphs (d) and (f) for PPE types covered by the listed specific standards (for example, 1910.135 head protection). That means the employer is responsible for performing the hazard assessment and delivering the required training for those PPE categories (1910.132(g)).

• Put the assessment, selection, fit checks, and training for those PPEs into your safety program and keep records documenting completion.

Under 1910.132(h) employers generally must provide PPE at no cost, and when respirators are required by 1910.134 the employer must also comply with the respirator standard’s requirements, which include providing required respirators and associated services (medical evaluation, fit testing, and training) as specified in 1910.134. See 1910.132(h) and 1910.134 for the respective obligations.

• In practice, employers should budget to supply respirators, fit testing, medical evaluations, and required training when respirators are necessary for protection.

To show compliance, employers should keep a written hazard assessment certification per 1910.132(d)(2) and records that demonstrate employees received and understood PPE training per 1910.132(f)(1)–(2).

• Maintain the hazard-assessment certification with the evaluated area, certifier, and dates.
• Keep training rosters, dates, content summaries, and records of demonstrations or fit-testing as applicable.

Under 1910.132(h)(5) the employer must pay for replacement PPE except when the employee has lost or intentionally damaged the PPE; in those loss or intentional-damage situations the employer is not required to pay for replacement (1910.132(h)(5).

• Employers should have clear policies documenting how lost or intentionally damaged PPE is handled and ensure these policies are applied consistently.

If an employer believes an employee has not retained the understanding or skill to use PPE properly, 1910.132(f)(3) requires retraining. Retraining is also required when workplace or PPE changes render previous training obsolete (1910.132(f)(3)).

• Steps: identify the deficiency, provide focused retraining (including hands-on practice), verify understanding and ability, and document the retraining.