1910.132(f)(3)(iii): PPE Retraining When Skills Slip
Employers must retrain an employee on PPE when inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE indicate that the employee has not retained the required understanding or skill.
Key takeaways
- 1910.132(f)(3)(iii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 11 times in the last 3 years, in 11 inspections, with $43,889 in current penalties.
- Most citations: VA (3), IL (3), PA (1).
- Related part: 1910.132(f) Training (469 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.132(f)(3)(iii) 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
(iii) Inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill. 11 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.132.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Top states: VA (3), IL (3), PA (1), NY (1), TX (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FEDEX GROUND | CAROL STREAM, IL | $11,823 |
| SOUTH CHICAGO PACKING LLC | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 |
| ARROW GLASS & MIRROR, INC. | HOUSTON, TX | $7,566 |
| CURTISS WRIGHT FLOW CONTROL SERVICES | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 |
| WORKFORCE AS A SERVICE INC. | CENTRE HALL, PA | $4,800 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.132(f)(3)(iii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.132(f)(3)(iii).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.132(f) Training 469 citations
- 1910.132(f)(1) 432 citations
- 1910.132(f)(3) 21 citations
- 1910.132(f)(2) 16 citations
- 1910.132(f)(1)(i) 14 citations
- 1910.132(f)(1)(ii) 10 citations
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
When is PPE retraining required?
When inadequacies in an employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE show they have not retained the required understanding or skill.
Does this apply to assigned PPE only?
It applies to the employee's assigned PPE.
What shows a need for retraining?
Inadequacies in knowledge or use of the PPE.
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.