Your business has a duty to protect workers against workplace hazards and safety risks. One way to fulfill this duty is by providing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees.
But what are employers’ responsibilities for personal protective equipment? Which businesses need to offer PPE, and what types of protective gear are necessary? WorkSafe helps businesses maintain occupational health in Wichita, KS, and answers these questions and others below.
What Is Personal Protective Equipment?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is safety gear that a worker uses to protect themself against workplace hazards. This equipment is wearable and may consist of clothing, goggles, helmets, masks, or other garments.
In an ideal world, no employer would need to provide workers with PPE because no workplace hazards would exist. Employers are responsible for implementing the protocols necessary to keep their work environments safe. But mistakes happen, and PPE acts as a second layer of protection to help workers avoid injuries.
A worker should never need to rely on their PPE when performing everyday, routine tasks. Accident prevention is always the first line of defense.
Which Employers Are Responsible for Providing PPE?
Generally, an employer is responsible for providing the necessary PPE to mitigate hazards present in their workplace. Under OSHA regulations, employers are first responsible for conducting “hazard assessments” to pinpoint potential risks, and then for determining the types of PPE that will reduce the risk of injury.
OSHA does not generally require that certain industries supply certain types of PPE, as every business has different needs and hazards. Employers should determine the appropriate PPE for the hazards present in their workplaces. But generally, the following industries require at least some of these types of gear:
- Healthcare: Gloves, masks, gowns, face shields
- Construction: Hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed boots
- Manufacturing: Respirators, hearing protection
- Transportation: High-visibility clothing, safety shoes
- Agriculture: Gloves, eye protection, respirators
- First responders: Helmets, gloves, fire-resistant clothing
- Laboratories: Lab coats, gloves, respirators
Who Pays for PPE?
Employer responsibilities also extend to supplying the necessary PPE to workers. Employees should generally not be responsible for purchasing PPE with their own money or subtracting the costs from their paychecks.
If an employee already owns PPE and prefers to use their equipment, they can do so, as long as this is completely voluntary. However, the employer is responsible for ensuring that this equipment is adequate to protect the employee from workplace hazards.
There are a few exceptions. For example, if a worker loses or intentionally damages their PPE, they may be responsible for replacing it. Employers are also not required to pay for everyday or ordinary clothing.
Other Employer Responsibilities for PPE
The other major employer responsibilities for personal protective equipment pertain to ensuring the proper use of employer-provided PPE. This may involve:
- Conducting regular PPE training to ensure that workers wear their PPE correctly and at the appropriate times
- Monitoring PPE usage and correcting misuse
- Maintaining and replacing PPE as necessary to ensure long-term effectiveness
- Informing workers of any limitations of their PPE
Following these PPE compliance requirements helps promote a safe work environment, which is beneficial both for employers and employees. Employers can reduce workers’ compensation claims and promote better employee retention by strictly adhering to these workplace safety standards.
Additionally, serious violations of OSHA safety requirements could lead to up to $14,502 in fines. Willful or repeated violations could lead to steeper fines of up to $145,027.
What Are a Worker’s Responsibilities With PPE?
Workers also share some of the responsibility for keeping themselves safe when performing hazardous tasks at work. While workers’ compensation would cover virtually any injury, even one the worker was responsible for, that doesn’t mean employees should be careless.
Ignoring PPE requirements could put themselves and others at risk of serious injury. It would also likely go against your company’s safety guidelines.
Workers are generally responsible for:
- Wearing the PPE provided to them
- Observing the workplace’s safety guidelines and regulations
- Notifying their employer when their PPE becomes damaged
- Attending PPE training sessions
Enhance Employee Safety With WorkSafe
Understanding your employer responsibilities for personal protective equipment is just one of the many obligations you have to keep your workplace safe, prevent injuries, and respond to incidents as they arise. At WorkSafe, we help businesses across the greater Wichita, KS, area prevent and manage workplace injuries with the latest protocols.
Our occupational health clinic can help you enhance employee safety and OSHA compliance. Contact us today at 316-262-8800 to learn more.