OSHA PPE Fit Requirements: What NJ, NY & PA Contractors Need in Place
PPE should fit the worker and the task. Check how equipment will be selected, issued and adjusted for the people who will wear it.
What the 1926.95(c) Fit Rule Actually Requires
Under 29 CFR 1926.95(c), employers must select PPE that is safe for the work and properly fits each affected employee. Check fit in the way the equipment will be worn. It should not introduce another hazard or interfere with the protection it is meant to provide.
Who Pays for PPE Under 1926.95(d)
OSHA generally requires employers to provide PPE used to comply with Part 1926 at no cost to employees. The rule has several exceptions, including certain non-specialty safety-toe footwear and prescription safety eyewear when employees may wear them off the jobsite. Check the full list in 29 CFR 1926.95(d) for the equipment in question.
PPE Training Requirements Construction Crews Can’t Skip
As you select PPE, check the fit with the worker and the task in mind. Other standards may add training, testing or documentation requirements for specific equipment; check those separately rather than applying one checklist to every type of PPE.
On your site, check:
- Does the selected PPE suit the hazard and properly fit each affected employee?
- Can each worker adjust and wear the equipment in its intended position without interfering with the protection or task?
- Who checks that the PPE fits when it is issued and remains suitable as the task changes?
- What instruction or training does the applicable standard require for this PPE and task?
- Who replaces PPE that is damaged, worn out or no longer fits? Under 29 CFR 1926.95(d)(5), the employer pays for replacement unless the employee lost or intentionally damaged it.
- When several employers share a site, who checks the PPE requirements that apply to each crew?
PPE selection starts with the hazard and the worker who will wear it. For help with a written safety program or JHA that fits your work, request a free 30-minute preliminary consultation.