OSHA Updates PPE Rules for Construction Workers
The revision requires each worker is provided with properly fitting equipment.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Dec 16, 2024
OSHA has finalized changes to its PPE standard for the construction industry, requiring all PPE properly fit workers who need it. The updated rule addresses long-standing concerns about ill-fitting equipment and its impact on worker safety.
According to a recent release, the revision brings construction standards in line with those already in place for general industry. PPE like gloves, helmets and protective clothing is essential for reducing hazard exposure, and ill-fitting PPE conversely leads to increased risks, including discouraging workers from wearing the necessary equipment.
“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 job site in their size,” OSHA Assistant Secretary Doug Parker said 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 rule highlights the shared responsibility of employers to ensure all workers have access to properly sized PPE, a step OSHA believes will lead to safer job sites across the construction industry. More on the updated rule is available in the Federal Register.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.