The U.S. Department of Labor announced on December 11 that its Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) finalized a revision to the personal protective equipment (PPE) rule for construction. The rule requires that PPE must properly fit any construction worker who needs it to improve protections from hazardous conditions.
You can read the final rule here.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
The revision to the standard adds specific language requiring that employers provide PPE that properly fits construction industry workers. The change aligns the construction industry standard with the standard already in place for general industry.
Many types of personal protective equipment must be sized to fit a worker properly. Improperly sized PPE can be ineffective in protecting workers; create new hazards for the worker, such as oversized gloves or protective clothing being caught in machinery; and discourage use because of discomfort or poor fit. The matter has been a longstanding industry safety concern, particularly among some women as well as among physically smaller or larger workers.
Amy Roosa, founder and CEO of The Safety Rack, was pleased with the rule. The Safety Rack’s mission is to close the PPE equity gap for women across all industries.
“The OSHA ruling is a significant step forward,” she said. “It’s a reminder that we’re making progress toward safer, more inclusive workplaces, especially for women who typically don’t have access to proper fitting PPE.”