1910.132(a): Provide and Use Protective Equipment
Employers must provide protective equipment, including PPE for the eyes, face, head and limbs, protective clothing, respirators, and shields and barriers, wherever hazards could injure the body by absorption, breathing or contact. The equipment must be used and kept sanitary and reliable.
Key takeaways
- 1910.132(a) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 687 times in the last 3 years, in 683 inspections, with $3,110,904 in current penalties.
- 20 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (58), TX (57), NY (54).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.132(a) ("Application") is one requirement inside 1910.132 General requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(a) Application. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact. 687 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.132.
Injuries linked to this rule
20 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.132(a).
An employee was trimming tree limbs with a chainsaw, while standing in a basket on the fork attachment of a skid steer. The basket attachment fell off the raised fork with the employee inside the basket causing fatal injuries.
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 61 |
| 2024 | 246 |
| 2025 | 209 |
| 2026 | 171 |
Top states: TN (58), TX (57), NY (54), VA (47), IL (44)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| AEROJET ROCKETDYNE COLEMAN AEROSPACE, INC. | ORLANDO, FL | $124,136 |
| SEATEX, LLC | ROSENBERG, TX | $74,988 |
| ALLOY WHEEL REPAIR SPECIALISTS, LLC | BATH, PA | $40,000 |
| JOSEPH'S FOOD PRODUCTS COMPANY INC. | BROADVIEW, IL | $32,650 |
| HAYNES INTERNATIONAL INC | KOKOMO, IN | $30,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.132(a), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Seat belt use when operating baggage handling equipment around aircraft and aircraft associated locations. (2015-05-28)
- Guidance on Handling Cases Developed Pursuant to the FRC Enforcement Policy Memorandum. (2012-12-18)
- Payment for ski helmets when used as PPE. (2011-06-17)
- Flame-resistant and flame-retardant treated clothing for oil and gas well drilling, servicing, and production-related operations (2011-03-31)
- Clarification of term "Active Hydrocarbon Zone" as it relates to the oil and gas well drilling operations; and the need to use FRC when performing drilling operations (2010-10-19)
- Enforcement Policy for Flame-Resistant Clothing in Oil and Gas Drilling, Well Servicing, and Production-Related Operations (2010-03-19)
- Painting or placement of adhesive stickers on protective helmet shell. (2009-10-27)
- Requirement for flame-resistant clothing in petrochemical plant covered by PSM. (2006-03-07)
- Fall protection requirements when working from ladders in the telecommunications industry (2005-05-23)
- Requirements for providing seatbelts for drivers whose size precludes their using seatbelts. (2004-02-04)
- Fall protection requirements for commercial motor vehicles. (2002-03-04)
- Fall protection requirements for both residential and commercial HVAC systems; clarification of confined spaces (2001-09-13)
- PPE must be provided for serious sun exposure hazards. (2000-06-19)
- PPE for overexposure to the sun's radiation. (1998-08-28)
- Workers must be protected from hazards of heated (hot) surfaces. (1998-08-19)
- Using sunscreen to shield worker exposure to sun's radiation. (1998-04-16)
- Decision in The Hardaway Co. v. Dole Case. (1991-01-17)
- The acceptability of manhole entries through concentric cone or eccentric cone concrete pipe transition sections to underground workplaces. (1986-05-13)
- Hazards requiring foot protection and criteria for protective footwear. (1984-10-04)
- OSHA regulations governing the use of personal protective equipment. (1976-12-02)
- "Sankey Toe Caps" instead of safety shoes is acceptable. (1976-03-31)
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of protective equipment are covered?
PPE for the eyes, face, head and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers.
When is protective equipment required?
Wherever hazards of processes, environment, chemicals, radiation or mechanical irritants can cause injury through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.
What condition must PPE be kept in?
Sanitary and reliable.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.132 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.