OSHA Proposes Rule Clarification on Properly Fitting PPE

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed a rule clarification on July 20 that requires personal protective equipment (PPE) to fit properly, a move that could better protect women in the trades who “are often frustrated [by] oversized gear,” Construction Dive reports. The current rule requires construction employers to provide and maintain “adequate” PPE, but does not say it must fit properly. OSHA originally proposed the clarification in 2016, but faced pushback from some associations about costs and enforcement. Michelle Gray, national environmental health and safety leader at Redwood City, California-based DPR Construction, observed that many manufacturers and major contractors are already “ahead of the regulations, shirking the one-size-fits-all method.” She also said the clarification is not just a boon for women, but anyone who is short, tall, large or small. OSHA is accepting comments on the rule clarification through September 18.