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    OSHA Strengthens PPE Standard for Construction Workers

    Dec. 12, 2024
    The revision to the standard adds that employers provide PPE that properly fits.
    ID 2369481 © Stephen Coburn | Dreamstime.com
    OSHA Strengthens Construction PPE Rule

    By: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

    The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has finalized a revision to the personal protective equipment standard for construction. The final rule explicitly requires the equipment to properly fit any construction worker who needs it, improving protections from hazardous conditions.

    "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 Doug Parker, assistant secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, 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."

    PPE and safety equipment

    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, according to OSHA. The matter has been a longstanding industry safety concern, particularly among some women as well as among physically smaller or larger workers.