1910.132(d): PPE hazard assessment and written certification
Employers must assess the workplace to find hazards that are present, or likely to be present, that call for personal protective equipment (PPE). Where they exist, the employer must select the right PPE, have each affected worker use it, tell each worker about the selection decisions, and make sure the PPE fits. The assessment must be verified with a written certification that names the workplace evaluated, the person certifying it, and the date(s) of the assessment, and identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.
Key takeaways
- 1910.132(d) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 4,647 times in the last 3 years, in 4,368 inspections, with $7,165,310 in current penalties.
- 65 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: IL (488), PR (381), MD (290).
- Related part: 1910.132(d)(2) (2,779 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.132(d) ("Hazard assessment and equipment selection") is one requirement inside 1910.132 General requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. 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
(d) Hazard assessment and equipment selection. 4,647 citations
(1) The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall: Open (d)(1) 1,868 citations
(i) Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment; Open (d)(1)(i) 297 citations
(ii) Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and, Open (d)(1)(ii) 14 citations
(iii) Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee. Open (d)(1)(iii) 24 citations
Non-mandatory appendix B contains an example of procedures that would comply with the requirement for a hazard assessment.
(2) The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment. Open (d)(2) 2,779 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.132.
Injuries linked to this rule
65 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.132(d).
At 5:45 p.m. on February 3, 2025, Employee #1 attempted to charge a dead vehicle battery on the second level of a car carrier. He fell through an open space where a vehicle would normally be positioned and sustained 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 | 273 |
| 2024 | 1,581 |
| 2025 | 1,638 |
| 2026 | 1,155 |
Top states: IL (488), PR (381), MD (290), MI (287), NJ (254)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DAEHAN SOLUTION NEVADA, LLC. | FERNLEY, NV | $700,360 |
| GAGE TREE SERVICE LLC | CHUGIAK, AK | $99,308 |
| INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S., INC. | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $59,580 |
| ACCURATE ENERGETIC SYSTEMS, LLC | MC EWEN, TN | $54,000 |
| KROGER FULFILLMENT NETWORK, LLC | MIDDLETOWN, OH | $50,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.132(d), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- OSHA's Head Protection Requirements and Selection and Use of Type II Safety Helmets (2026-08-17)
- Cranes and the use of protective helmets (2024-06-06)
- Hazard assessments for PPE at disaster clean-up sites with multiple employers (2024-03-28)
- Container labeling of non-pesticide agrichemical products packaged for shipment (2015-09-11)
- The use of hard hats while working on roofs in hot weather (2014-08-01)
- Employer Personal Protective Equipment Workplace Hazard Assessment For Footwear (2013-12-09)
- Enforcement Policy for Flame-Resistant Clothing in Oil and Gas Drilling, Well Servicing, and Production-Related Operations (2010-03-19)
- Requirements of the HCS and the employer's ability to rely on a manufacturer's hazard determination. (2008-12-22)
- Request to provide list of corrosive materials and concentrations requiring use of emergency eyewashes and showers. (2008-04-14)
- Wearing of open-toed shoes in an office environment. (2003-08-28)
- Training and PPE requirements for hospital staff that decontaminate victims/patients. (2002-12-02)
- Respiratory protection requirements for hospital staff decontaminating chemically contaminated patients. (2002-09-05)
- Assessing hazards to select eye and respiratory protection. (1998-11-11)
- OSHA standard for rung spacing on fixed industrial ladders and PPE in powered industrial vehicle battery changing. (1997-04-02)
- Enforcement of Fall Protection on Moving Stock (1996-10-18)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.132(d)(2) 2,779 citations
- 1910.132(d)(1) 1,868 citations
- 1910.132(d)(1)(i) 297 citations
- 1910.132(d)(1)(iii) 24 citations
- 1910.132(d)(1)(ii) 14 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Does the PPE hazard assessment have to be written?
It must be verified by a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated, the person certifying the evaluation, the date(s) of the assessment, and that the document is a certification of hazard assessment.
Is there a sample procedure?
Yes. Non-mandatory Appendix B to Subpart I gives an example of a hazard assessment procedure.
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.