Revisions finalized earlier this month to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Personal Protective Equipment in Construction rule explicitly require garments, head or eye protection gear, and other PPE to fit properly. These revisions align the construction standard with corresponding language in PPE standards for general industry and shipyards.
“Ill-fitting PPE may not protect an employee at all, and in other cases it may present additional hazards to that employee and to employees who work around them,” the revised rule states. “Sleeves of protective clothing that are too long or gloves that do not fit properly may make it difficult to use tools or operate equipment, putting the wearer and other workers at risk of exposure to hazards, or may get caught in machinery, resulting in injuries to the wearer such as fractures or amputations. The legs of protective garments that are too long could cause tripping hazards.”
“Properly fitting PPE is a critical element of an effective occupational safety and health program [and] to provide appropriate protection to employees from workplace hazards,” the agency said. “Improperly fitting PPE may reduce the effectiveness of protection or discourage employees from using such equipment in the workplace.”
“I’ve talked to workers in construction, particularly women, who have spoken of personal protective equipment that didn’t fit or was simply unavailable at the jobsite in their size,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “PPE must fit properly to work. I’m proud of the broad support from both employers and unions for OSHA’s efforts to make clear that employers must provide the right PPE for each worker who needs it.”
