The Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized a rule, updating the personal protective equipment (PPE) standard for construction. The new standard for construction explicitly states that PPE must fit properly, citing it as “a critical element of an effective occupational safety and health program.”
Applicable employers in the construction industry must provide properly fitting PPE for each worker. Ill-fitting PPE gear increases a worker's risk of injury and is ineffective at protection. Improper gear can include oversized gloves or an illfitting safety harness.
OSHA clarifies that the final rule is intended to ensure that workers who may not be able to use standard size PPE, largely women and smaller workers, are afforded correctly fitted gear. OSHA provides further answers to frequently asked questions regarding the final rule.
