SIZE MATTERS!
By Paul Bernier, ASP
Providing proper PPE (personal protective equipment) to workers has recently become more challenging because of the new OSHA “fit” requirements in place. We are all familiar with approved safety gloves, glasses, hard hats, respirators, etc., but now there is an amendment to the existing PPE standard, effective January 2025, requiring employers to ensure the PPE fits correctly for each employee.
WHAT ARE OSHA PPE REQUIREMENTS?
29 CFR 1926.95 explains the responsibilities of employers to provide proper PPE for their workers and who is responsible for paying for the equipment. The standard specifically states that PPE for eyes, face, head, and extremities; protective clothing; respiratory devices; and protective shields and barriers shall be provided by the employer, in most cases, and maintained in good working order. Items not required to be paid for by the employer are prescription eyewear and normal everyday work clothes.
WHAT PPE REQUIREMENTS CHANGED?
OSHA amended 29 CFR § 1926.95, which is the OSHA standard regarding PPE in construction settings. Specifically, § 1926.95(c) now states that “Employers must ensure that all personal protective equipment: (1) Is of safe design and construction for the work to be performed; and (2) Is selected to ensure that it properly fits each affected employee.”1 Prior to the change, § 1926.95(c) did not include the language about proper fit. OSHA has explained that the rule change aligns the construction PPE standard with the PPE standards for general industry and shipyard applications.
- PPE must be appropriate size to provide an employee with the necessary protection from hazards.
- PPE must fit properly so not to create additional safety & health hazards from either being too large or too small.
WHY WERE OSHA PPE REQUIREMENTS CHANGED?
PPE is the equipment used to minimize worker exposure to hazards when all other safety controls cannot provide protection. PPE is the last defense for injuries and illnesses that may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or any other workplace hazards. These items include gloves, safety glasses, shoes, earplugs, hard hats, respirators, safety vests, jackets, FR clothing, coveralls, harnesses, and other PPE items.
When PPE items do not fit properly, it can cause greater hazard, with loose clothing or gloves being pulled into moving equipment, hard hats and/or safety glasses falling off, or even employees refusing to wear the items because they are uncomfortable and hinder their work. Proper fitting PPE is more comfortable and, therefore, encourages the worker to use it. If the personal protective equipment does not fit properly, it can make the difference between being safely covered or dangerously exposed.
This change is part of OSHA’s broader effort to enhance workplace safety, particularly for women as well as physically smaller or larger workers regardless of gender.
PPE TRAINING
Employers are also required to train their employees to know when the equipment is necessary; what equipment is needed; how to properly put on, take off, and adjust the equipment; what limitations there may be; and proper care, maintenance, and disposal.
The employer must have such a program in place to ensure the employees know the hazards and how to protect themselves. This program must be continuously monitored to ensure effectiveness.
EFFECTS TO WELDING INDUSTRY?
As we have seen over the years, more and more women are entering the trades industries, and most welding PPE manufacturers have not produced smaller sizes to fit them. We have seen more glove manufacturers now offering smaller sizes to conform to the standard, but they are still lacking, in my opinion.
Also, some hard hat manufacturers have recently offered larger shell hard hats, and protective clothing manufacturers offering sizes up to 5XL to accommodate larger people.
We know the requirements for proper PPE for welders, and now we know proper fit is of great importance. Welders require proper fitting PPE such as:
- Welding hoods
- FR jackets
- Safety glasses
- Respirators
- Harnesses
- Hard hats
- Face shields
- Ear plugs / muffs
It is important for us to understand and equip our customers with proper PPE that works for their needs and fits properly. We will, no doubt, see more and more offerings for welder PPE in the future to accommodate smaller and larger body types.
