If you’re unsure whether you or your employer is responsible for buying your PPE, you’re not alone. Many workers often feel confused about who should pay for their personal protective equipment. Some workers wonder why they need to use PPE at all.

If you find yourself in this position, don’t worry. In this article, we’ll discuss a few PPE-related subjects and the hazards it protects against. We’ll also look at the importance of PPE and whose responsibility it is to pay for it.

What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is clothing and safety gear designed to minimize exposure to hazards and risks for workers. People wear PPE to ensure workplace safety. PPE is important in many industries, particularly construction and healthcare. In fact, PPE is so important that its use is often required by law.
Safety professionals consider PPE part of the "hierarchy of controls" for mitigating safety risks in the workplace. This hierarchy consists of five levels. Each level is designed to eliminate hazards or reduce the risks they pose to workers. PPE is the final level of this hierarchy, coming after administrative controls.

Types of PPE Required In the Workplace

There are many different types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Examples of PPE include:

• Hard hats
• Safety shoes
• Safety glasses
• Face masks
• High-visibility clothing

The specific type of personal protective equipment you’ll use will vary depending on the type of work you do.

Many work environments, from industrial workshops to science labs, use safety glasses for protection. While it’s one of the most important forms of PPE, people often fail to wear safety glasses. This is a particularly prevalent problem in the construction industry. It's enough of an issue that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) includes it on its list of frequently cited standards. To support better compliance, choose safety glasses designed for improved comfort and visibility, such as options from MCR Hulk, HexArmor, or Bullhead Whipray.

Employers could also require employees to wear hand protection, and the appropriate glove will depend on the specific task.

Any workplace with high noise levels might also require workers to use hearing protection. This type of PPE usually includes earplugs or earmuffs. The hearing protection option your employer requires depends on the type and volume of noise.

Work environments involving extreme temperatures often require personal protective equipment. For example, employers may require tow truck drivers working in snowy conditions to wear cold-weather protective clothing.

For every hazard, there’s a type of PPE designed to protect workers from injury, and you can find various protective clothing options to suit your workers’ needs.

What Workplace Hazards Should Be Considered in PPE Purchasing?

The first step employers should take when purchasing PPE is performing a hazard assessment. Employers should be thorough when assessing the workplace for potential safety risks.

It’s an employer’s responsibility to consider all potential hazards an employee might be exposed to during their job duties. Employers need to sincerely consider a wide range of hazards when determining appropriate PPE for their workers. These include (but aren't limited to) physical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, and even biological hazards.

Physical hazards include environmental risks present in the work environment. Slips, trips, falls, and objects falling from overhead are the most common environmental injuries.

Industrial noise is another type of environmental hazard for employees. Protecting their hearing is very important, and all workers on noisy job sites should be provided with hearing protection.

Respiratory hazards are also prevalent in many industries. Employers are responsible for making sure their employees have (and use) proper respirators. Workers must use the PPE as dust and chemicals can cause lung damage.

The types of hazards you'll have to plan for vary based on the industry. A nurse, for example, might need PPE like disposable gloves and a face mask to protect against contagious illnesses. In contrast, an electrician stringing power lines will need a safety harness to guard against falls. Each work environment is unique and presents different hazards.

Ultimately, an employer must carefully assess all workplace hazards when determining what types of PPE are necessary. If an employer is struggling to properly categorize any potential risks, they should contact OSHA for a consultation.

What PPE Is My Employer Required to Provide?

OSHA requires that all employers exercise due diligence in protecting their employees from harm in the workplace. Part of this responsibility involves providing appropriate PPE. Employers must purchase any PPE necessary to protect their employees from work hazards.

As per OSHA regulations, employers (not employees) are responsible for paying for PPE. The law doesn't force employees to pay for required PPE. However, there are a few exceptions to this. For example, employers aren't usually obligated to pay for prescription protective eyewear. Regular weather gear is also exempt in most circumstances.

State Laws About PPE Responsibilities

While OSHA, as a federal organization, has authority over the entire country, each state also has its own:

• Safety laws
• Training standards
• Equipment regulations

However, all states must, at a minimum, adhere to federal safety regulations.

Certain states may choose to impose even stricter laws, but those standards must still be OSHA-approved. OSHA evaluates state-run plans on a yearly basis to ensure overall effectiveness.

Why Personal Protective Equipment is Required for Occupational Safety

OSHA requires PPE to minimize exposure to hazards for employees. Using PPE can help prevent injuries and illnesses. In some cases, proper use of personal protective equipment can even save lives.

Some people may feel that PPE is unnecessary. However, PPE safety regulations are in place for a reason. Workers, for example, may feel that wearing goggles is silly. But even small particles can cause eye injuries, so it’s important to use PPE to protect your eyes.

Employers should also invest in safety training for all employees. Every workplace should have a comprehensive safety program in place. This program should involve discussing job site safety expectations and training employees in the proper use of PPE.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are OSHA Standards?

OSHA stands for Occupational Health and Safety Administration. OSHA’s mission is to promote safe working environments for everyone. OSHA does this by setting and enforcing safety standards for all industries. All employers must comply with OSHA standards. If a company violates OSHA standards, it faces very serious consequences.

OSHA also helps provide additional safety training and education if necessary. If you're interested in learning more, research courses are available through the OSHA Education Center.

Can Worksites Allow Employee-Owned PPE?

Employers can allow workers to use their own PPE on the job. However, the employee-owned safety gear must meet the same safety standards as what you’d provide. If an employee's PPE doesn’t meet the requirements, an employer is within their rights to ask the employee to wear employer-provided PPE instead.

Employees also can't purchase their own PPE and ask their employer to pay for it if the employer already provides adequate PPE.

Ultimately, even if an employee brings their own PPE, the employer is still responsible for making sure it's suitable. The employer must assess the employee-owned PPE to see that it's appropriate for the working conditions. The employer must also ensure that the employee properly wears and maintains it.

What is the Basic Required PPE?

The basic required PPE will vary based on your work environment. Basic safety gear for construction workers, for example, might include hard hats and high-visibility clothing. In contrast, PPE for nurses or health care providers might instead involve face masks and gloves.

In general, the most common types of personal protective equipment are eye, face, and head protection. Manufacturers design these types of PPE to help protect workers from hazards like flying debris or chemical splashes. Foot and hand protection are also fairly common, as are certain types of respiratory protection.

Who Is Responsible for Paying For PPE?

Employers are responsible for covering the cost of PPE for their employees. The law doesn't require employees to pay for required PPE. Employers usually don't have to pay for prescription equipment as this doesn’t form part of the standard PPE requirements.

Additionally, if an employee's PPE wears out due to normal use, it's the employer's responsibility to pay for a replacement. If an employee deliberately loses or damages their PPE, however, an employer can require them to pay to replace it.

Conclusion

As you can see, there's a lot to know when it comes to personal protective equipment. But understanding the purpose of PPE and why OSHA requires PPE for safety is a great first step. This way, you can make sure your workers are protected from dangers at all times.

References

OSHA. (2022). Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.