Personal protect equipment is often the last, and sometimes only, defense an employee has from
serious injury or death at work. This equipment is, therefore, quite heavily regulated by
governing bodies such as the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health
Administration. OSHA does this in several ways, both with a specific standard, Standard
1910.132, and by inserting standard specific personal protective equipment guidelines in other
relevant standards. This can create a difficult situation for safety teams who need to create
company policies and procedures, as the guidelines are spread in multiple areas.
But to make life easier, it is often important to think about the “why” behind the “what.” In this
case, why the equipment is worn and how it protects employees. This common sense approach
will help employers and safety teams make practical guidelines for this equipment in different
situations.
Of course, it is important to ensure that the common sense policies and procedures align with
what is legally required of the employer. And if you are afraid your policies and procedures are
not compliant, it would probably make sense to contact a qualified occupational safety and
health auditing firm which can help you to ensure your procedures are compliant. A qualified
third party firm will review all current policies and procedures and compare them to current legal
requirements, and help the company to update or correct any issues.
If you have any questions about personal protective equipment or need any guidance in update
policies and procedures, please contact us. If you have anything to add about personal protective
equipment, please leave a comment.
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