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Dive Brief:
- OSHA has completed a review of its standard of personal protective equipment for constructionexplicitly requiring equipment to properly fit any worker who needs it, the Department of Labor announced on December 11.
- The final rule, effective January 13adds specific language requiring construction employers to provide appropriate PPE to their workers, which aligns the construction standard with the standard already in place for the industry at large.
- OSHA first announced the proposed rule in July 2023. The standard applies to all types of PPE, including helmets, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, respirators, gowns, vests and harnesses.
Diving knowledge:
Ill-fitting PPE can be ineffective at protecting workers, OSHA says, a sentiment echoed by advocates calling for better gear for women and others who may not fit into standard gear. In fact, ill-fitting PPE can create new hazards, such as oversized gloves or vests getting caught or being discouraged from use due to discomfort.
OSHA said the matter has been a long-standing industry safety concern, particularly among some women, as well as among younger and older workers.
“I’ve talked to construction workers, especially women, who have talked about personal protective equipment that didn’t fit or was simply not available on the job site in their size,” said Doug Parker, assistant secretary for safety and occupational health. the release
In fact, an informal survey of 174 traders found that 77% had been unnecessarily exposed to a hazard due to ill-fitting PPEJessica Bunting, director of research practices at CPWR, the Center for Construction Research and Training, told Construction Dive.
But it’s not just women who need access to the right PPE.
“There are a lot of male workers of all shapes and sizes who don’t fit into PPE made for the average American male,” Bunting told Construction Dive in 2023. “Fortunately, manufacturers have started to develop more sizes and focus more on women’s workwear.
