Safety Alert: Federal OSHA Issues New PPE Rule

By Dennis W. Roberts, Director of Industry Relations and Safety

On May 15, 2008, OSHA’s new rule which clarifies which pieces of personal protective equipment must be provided to employees at no cost takes effect.

The rule states that employers must provide the following at no cost to employees:

Foot protection; special boots for  longshoremen working logs; rubber boots with steel toes;  shoe covers—toe caps with metatarsal guards; non-prescription eye protection; goggles; prescription eyewear inserts/lenses for full face respirators and helmets used for welding and diving; face shields; laser safety goggles; fire-fighting equipment (gloves, helmets, boots, proximity suits, full gear); hard hats, hearing protection; welding protective equipment; non-specialty gloves if used for protection from dermatitis or severe cuts or abrasions, not for non-safety issues related to cold of keeping clean; rubber sleeves; aluminized gloves; chemical resistant gloves, aprons, clothing; barrier creams unless they are used only for protection against weather; rubber insulating gloves; mesh cut-proof gloves, mesh, or leather aprons; and items used in medical or laboratory settings to protect against exposure to infectious agents (aprons, lab coats, goggles, disposable gloves, shoe covers, etc.)

Employers do not have to pay for the following:

Non-specialty safety protective footwear (steel-toed shoes/boots); non specialty prescription safety eyewear; sunglasses/sunscreen; sturdy work shoes; lineman’s boots; ordinary cold weather and rain gear (coats, parkas, cold weather gloves, winter boots); logging boots provided under the General Industry standard; back belts; long sleeve shirts; long pants; dust mask/respirators used under the voluntary provisions spelled out in 1910.134.

The new rule does not override company policies which spell out how employers will pay for PPE, such as allowances, reimbursements, or handing out PPE from a stockpile. Its main objective it to define which PPE must be provided at no cost to the employee.

Posted 2/25/08

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