OSH Center PPE Requirements
OSH Center regulations mandate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce workers’ exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls cannot adequately control risks. Employers must assess whether PPE is necessary to safeguard employees and ensure that the equipment provided is used correctly and maintained in a clean, reliable condition.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers are generally responsible for:
- Conducting a comprehensive hazard assessment of the workplace to identify physical and health risks.
- Selecting and supplying the appropriate PPE to employees based on identified hazards.
- Providing thorough training on the proper use, care, and limitations of PPE.
- Maintaining, repairing, or replacing PPE that becomes worn, damaged, or defective.
- Regularly reviewing and updating the PPE program to ensure its continued effectiveness.
Employee Responsibilities
Employees play a key role in their own safety by:
- Wearing PPE correctly and consistently while on the job.
- Participating in all required PPE training sessions.
- Properly storing, cleaning, and maintaining their assigned protective equipment.
- Reporting to supervisors when PPE needs repair or replacement.