Personal Protective Equipment in Construction for Workers

Provided, used, maintained, and fitted

Protective equipment for your eyes, face, head and extremities, protective clothing, respirators, and shields and barriers must be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever the hazards of the work make it necessary.

• Your employer must make sure all PPE is of safe design and construction for the work, and is selected to properly fit each affected employee.
• If you bring your own PPE, your employer is still responsible for making sure it is adequate, properly maintained and sanitary.

Reference: 29 CFR 1926.95(a) · 29 CFR 1926.95(b) · 29 CFR 1926.95(c)(1) · 29 CFR 1926.95(c)(2) · 29 CFR 1926.95(c)

Who pays for PPE

PPE used to comply with the construction standards must be provided by the employer at no cost to you. Your employer may not require you to provide or pay for your own PPE, except for these items:

• Non-specialty safety-toe footwear (such as steel-toe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, if you are allowed to wear them off the job site
• Boots with built-in metatarsal protection that you asked to use instead of the metatarsal guards your employer provides
• Everyday clothing such as long-sleeve shirts, long pants, street shoes and normal work boots
• Weather gear used solely for protection from weather, such as winter coats, rubber boots, raincoats, ordinary sunglasses and sunscreen
• Replacement PPE when you lost it or damaged it on purpose

Otherwise, your employer must pay for replacement PPE.

Reference: 29 CFR 1926.95(d)(1) · 29 CFR 1926.95(d)(2) · 29 CFR 1926.95(d)(5) · 29 CFR 1926.95(d)(6) · 29 CFR 1926.95(d)(3) · 29 CFR 1926.95(d)(4)(i) · 29 CFR 1926.95(d)(4)(ii)

Hard hats and ear protection

Head protection

If you work where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, from falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns, you must be protected by a protective helmet. Your employer provides head protection that meets a recognized ANSI Z89.1 standard (or is shown to be at least as effective). If you are exposed to high-voltage shock and burns, the helmet must also meet that standard's electrical insulation section.

Hearing protection

• Where noise cannot feasibly be reduced to the permissible limits in 29 CFR 1926.52, ear protective devices must be provided and used.
• Ear protection inserted in the ear (plugs) must be fitted or determined individually by competent persons.
• Plain cotton is not acceptable ear protection.

Reference: 29 CFR 1926.100(a) · 29 CFR 1926.100(b)(1) · 29 CFR 1926.100(b)(2) · 29 CFR 1926.101(a) · 29 CFR 1926.101(b) · 29 CFR 1926.101(c) · 29 CFR 1926.100(b)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1926.100(b)(3)

Match the protection to the hazard

Your employer must ensure you use appropriate eye or face protection when you are exposed to hazards from:

• For flying objects, eye protection must have side protection. Clip-on or slide-on side shields that meet the requirements are acceptable.
• If you wear prescription glasses, you need eye protection with your prescription built in, or protection that fits over your glasses without disturbing either lens.
• Eye and face PPE must be marked to identify the manufacturer, and must meet a recognized ANSI Z87.1 standard (or be shown at least as effective).

Reference: 29 CFR 1926.102(a)(1) · 29 CFR 1926.102(a)(2) · 29 CFR 1926.102(a)(3) · 29 CFR 1926.102(a)(4) · 29 CFR 1926.102(b)(1) · 29 CFR 1926.102(b)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1926.102(b)(2)

Welding shades and lasers

Filter lenses for welding, cutting and brazing are chosen using Table E-1 in 29 CFR 1926.102 as a guide. A good practice is to remember that a higher shade number is a darker lens. Shades more dense (darker) than those listed may be used to suit your needs.

If your job exposes you to laser beams, you must be furnished laser safety goggles that protect for that laser's specific wavelength and have an optical density adequate for the energy involved.

Reference: 29 CFR 1926.102(c)(1) · 29 CFR 1926.102(c)(1) Table E-1 · 29 CFR 1926.102(c)(2)(i)

Life jackets, ring buoys and a skiff

When you work over or near water where the danger of drowning exists:

• You must be provided a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket or buoyant work vest.
• Inspect it before and after each use for defects that would alter its strength or buoyancy. Defective units must not be used.
• Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line must be provided and readily available, no more than 200 feet apart.
• At least one lifesaving skiff must be immediately available where employees work over or next to water.

Reference: 29 CFR 1926.106(a) · 29 CFR 1926.106(b) · 29 CFR 1926.106(c) · 29 CFR 1926.106(d)