Who's Responsibility is it to Pay

When PPE is required to protect employees, it must be provided by the employer at no cost to employees, except for specific items, such as:

• Safety-toe footwear,
• Prescription safety eyewear,
• Everyday clothing and weather-related gear, and
• Logging boots

OSHA requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels. Employers are required to determine if PPE should be used to protect their workers.

This final rule became effective on February 13, 2008.

(See 72 FR 64341, Nov. 15, 2007)