Search

Question of the Week: Employer Provided PPE

Posted on 3/1/2011 by James Griffin

Q. As an employer in a hazardous work environment, do I always have to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for my employees or can I deduct the cost of new and replacement equipment from their wages?

A. Under OSHA rules at 29 CFR 1910.132(d), employers are required to assess the hazards in their workplace, and if any hazards cannot be removed or otherwise mitigated the employer must provide PPE to employees to protect them from likely hazards. PPE includes but is not limited to, eye protection such as safety glasses, head protection such as helmets, hand protection such as gloves, and face masks or respiratory protection.

At 29 CFR 1910.132(h), OSHA explains that when an employer issues PPE to employees in order to comply with OSHA safety regulations, the employer must provide the equipment at no cost to the employee. The only equipment that employers do not have to pay for are:
  • Nonspecialty safety-toe footwear (i.e. steel-toe boots), or nonspecialty prescription safety eyewear provided these items can be worn offsite,
  • Safety-toe footwear if the employer provides other metatarsal guards,
  • Logging boots,
  • Everyday clothing such as long-sleeve shirts and normal work boots,
  • Ordinary clothing, skin creams, or other items, used solely for protection from weather (i.e. winter coats, sunscreen),
  • Replacement PPE when the employee loses or intentionally damages the PPE, or
  • PPE owned by an employee when the employer allows the use of that equipment in lieu of PPE that the employer would otherwise purchase.
References: 29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart I—“Personal Protective Equipment”
OSHA Directive # CPL 02-01-050. Enforcement Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment in General Industry. February 10, 2011.

Tags: osha

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Very witty instructor, made the long times sitting bearable. One of the few training courses I can say I actually enjoyed.

John Hutchinson

Senior EHS Engineer

Very good. I have always appreciated the way Lion Tech develops, presents and provides training and materials.

John Troy

Environmental Specialist

We have a very busy work schedule and using Lion enables us to take the course at our own time. It makes it easy for me to schedule my employees' training.

Timothy Mertes

Hazmat Shipping Professional

I attended training from another provider and learned absolutely nothing. Lion is much better. Hands down.

Nicole Eby

Environmental Specialist

The training was impressive. I am not a fan of online training but this was put together very well. I would recommend Lion to others.

Donnie James

Quality Manager

The instructor was energetic and made learning fun compared to dry instructors from other training providers.

Andy D’Amato

International Trade Compliance Manager

You blew the doors off the competition!

Stephen Bieschke

Facilities Manager

Our instructor was very dynamic and kept everyone's interest. Hazmat shipping can be a dry, complicated topic but I was engaged the entire time.

Kimberly Arnao

Senior Director of EH&S

The instructor was very very informative, helpful, understandable and pleasant. This course answered many questions I had, being new to this industry.

Frances Mona

Shipping Manager

Lion is at the top of the industry in compliance training. Course content and structure are updated frequently to make annual re-training enjoyable. I like that Lion has experts that I can contact for 1 year after the training.

Caroline Froning

Plant Chemist

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

This report details major changes for hazardous waste generators from US EPA’s Generator Improvements Rule, as well as the latest updates from states that are still working to adopt new, stricter Federal requirements.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.