OSHA Adds Requirement for PPE to Properly Fit Construction Industry Workers – Aligning With Same Requirement for General Industry
OSHA has updated its Construction Industry PPE standard at 29 CFR 1926.95 to require that PPE properly fit workers. This aligns with similar requirements in the General Industry Standard at 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(iii) that requires employers to select PPE that properly fits workers.
OSHA had already been citing cases of improperly fit PPE for construction, but felt it needed to be explicitly stated in the standard. There are already requirements for employers to purchase PPE or reimburse for certain items, but until now there was no mention that it needed to fit.
Improper Fitting PPE is a Safety Hazard
PPE that does not fit workers is a safety hazard. PPE that’s too small may not provide the proper coverage for a hazard, PPE that’s too big or too long may get caught into machines or fall off. PPE that’s just not fitting correctly may become so uncomfortable that the worker takes it off and doesn’t wear it at all, providing no coverage. Workers come in all shapes and sizes, heights and builds. Improper fit affects those who are smaller than average and larger than average and not all one size fits all or unisex sized PPE is actually built for everyone.
PPE that doesn’t fit can include gloves that are too big or too small, sleeves that are too long or not long enough, boots that cause blisters because they don’t fit correctly, safety glasses that fall off, ear plugs that are too small to fully protect the ear or too big that they fall out, harnesses that do not fit and will not properly secure a worker in the event of a fall and protective suits that drag on the ground creating a tripping hazard.
What is “Proper Fit”
OSHA’s change to the language includes the following definition of what proper fit means:
“…Employers must ensure 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.”
OSHA says that complaints of PPE being uncomfortable may be attributed to fit, and it’s the employer’s responsibility to check to see if that’s the case. However, they do understand that PPE can inherently be uncomfortable anyway, but fit should not be the case for the discomfort.
Female Workers and Fit
One of the most glaring fit issues comes for female workers. When OSHA first announced its intention for the fit clarification, they received a lot of comments from female construction workers who had stories of improper fitting PPE and having to buy their own PPE because of it. Cases included several who used examples of gloves that were not small enough. One worker was told to go find their own gloves because the employer could never find any that were small enough, and another worker was actually seriously injured after getting their oversized glove caught in a piece of machinery. One female worker couldn’t wear the standard company-issued waders and was afraid she would get fired or not getting paid, so she came up with her own raingear and duct taping solution to avoid the drowning risk that wearing the standard waders would have caused.
Although construction is a male-dominated field, OSHA estimates there are over 847,000 women wearing PPE that is not universal fit.
Harnesses are another area in which women had feedback. Harnesses typically built for men can fit women differently across the chest area, can be longer in the leg area causing the leg straps to hang below the knees, cannot be cinched or adjusted tightly enough or fit differently across the pelvic area. One woman told OSHA her employer kept telling her to “shrink it down to make it work” and it wasn’t possible on the still loose-fitting harness, causing more of a hinderance and a hazard.
OSHA did comment that safety suppliers have started making strides in PPE built especially for women in the past few years.
Which PPE Items Are Affected?
OSHA has a chart in its standard that lines out what’s recognized as PPE that may need to be fit to the worker vs. what can be a universal fit.
Universal Fit Items
- Body belts
- Hard hats
- Welding helmets
Not Universal Fit – to be Provided by the Employer
- Body harnesses
- Chemical protective clothing, footwear, splash goggles and splash aprons
- Ear muffs and ear plugs
- Face shields
- Gloves for abrasive and chemical protection
- Non-prescription safety glasses
- Safety goggles
- Safety vests
- Respirators were not included on the list but are covered under the Respiratory Protection Standard
Not Universal Fit Items – to be Purchased or Reimbursed by the Employer
- Prescription safety glasses
- Protective electrical PPE
- Protective welding clothing
- Safety shoes with or without metatarsal guards
- Welding goggles and helmets
OSHA estimates that construction industry workers wear over 13 million pieces of PPE that’s not universally fit. In addition to the 837,000 female construction workers, there are another 5 million men on the jobsites (men of all shapes, sizes and heights) also needing properly fit PPE.
The standard took effect on January 13, 2025. OSHA encourages employers to evaluate PPE fit issues with their current workers and to work with their suppliers to correct any issues.
If you need assistance with a PPE hazard evaluation or any other issue related to PPE, including respirators and respiratory protection programs, please contact us and we’d be happy to assist your company!
Need Help?
Are you low on staff to conduct your own safety training? Tired of dealing with generic videos? We can help! Check out our onsite safety training and customized training options.
Environmental Training
Now that you’ve learned what safety training is required annually, learn more about what environmental training is required annually.
Questions?
Does this apply to your company? Do you have questions? Contact us!
Receive News to Your Inbox
We send our articles by email whenever we add a new one. Don’t miss out! Sign up for our blog today.
Request a Quote
iSi can provide assistance in this area. How can we help? Ask us for a price quote.
Grill outside, away from structures. Make sure your grill is stable on a flat surface so that it can’t be tipped over. Keep the grill clean and wait for it to cool before you clean it. Check for propane leaks on your gas grill, and if you’re using charcoal, wait for the coals to completely cool before you dispose of them. Always dispose coals into a metal container. If the flame goes out on your grill, turn off the grill AND turn off the gas, then wait 5 min. before relighting. If you use a charcoal grill, only use charcoal starter fluid. If the fire starts to go out, don’t add any starter fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.
For walk-behind mowers, rotary blades underneath the mower can rotate at 200 mph. Keep your hands and feet away from the blade area when it’s running. Never remove installed safety guards such as directional flaps or shielded discharge outlets or bypass safety shut down devices such as clutch handles or switches that stop the blade as soon as you let go. Mow back and forth along the side of a steep hill, never up and down the slope.
to cool. Keep people and pets at least 60 ft. away and stop if you’re approached. Use both hands when operating.
Get familiar with the difference between these plants and how to spot them. Remember, leaves of three, let them be! For rashes use a cold compress, calamine lotion, non-prescription hydrocortisone cream, or an antihistamine to ease itching. You can also use other non-traditional treatments such as wrap dipped in apple cider vinegar. Call your doctor if the rash is near your eyes or covers a large part of your body.
Never swim alone, and always supervise children. Open water prevents a number of different hazards that pools don’t. These include limited visibility, depth changes, uneven surfaces, unknown objects that can be stepped on, and currents and undertow. Enter the water feet first to prevent head injury. This includes using water slides. Never dive into water that’s less than 8 ft. deep. Be on the lookout for maintenance issues around the swim area. Be alert of wet floors, sharp edges, broken glass, exposed bolts, broken ladders, broken railings and clear markings of water depth. If you find yourself struggling or accidentally fall in, float to live. Try not to panic as calmness will save you. Lean back and use your arms and legs to keep you afloat with gentle movements. Once you’re calm your breathing is controlled, then call for help or swim to safety. Don’t let your dog swim without supervision. While many dogs know how to swim, some can easily tire out.
g and damage your vehicle’s suspension. Check the hitch for the maximum trailer and maximum tongue weights it can safely support. Make sure you have the proper hitch ball for the trailer. Incorrectly sized hitch balls are the #1 cause of trailer accidents. When hauling loads, 60% of the load on the trailer should be placed on the front half of the trailer, with a tongue weight of 10-15% of the total weight that’s loaded on the trailer. Ensure weight is evenly distributed on the left and right sides of the trailer. Straps are critical — broken or cheap straps can fail fast. Use ratchet straps for anything heavier than an average person and use more than one strap in case one comes loose. The working load of the strap should be more than the weight of what you’re hauling. Check your tires on both the vehicle and the trailer and make sure your lights work before you leave. Take spare bulbs and fuses with you. Check your brakes and make sure the breakaway cable is properly attached to your tow vehicle. Carry spare parts such as at least one trailer spare tire as well as extra wheel bearings and hubs.
signaling devices, emergency supplies and a first aid kit. Think about your footing and be alert to slippery areas. Watch for low hanging branches and take extra caution near cliffs, outcroppings, hills, and water edges. No matter how clear a stream looks, it’s likely to contain waterborne parasites & microorganisms, so pack your own water. Make sure your fires are always attended, cannot be spread laterally or vertically (used a grill or stone surface) and drown it with water to put it out. Embers buried deep in the pile can reignite later. Be cautious when using a propane stove. Tents should be flame retardant and far enough away from the campfire. Wear sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and drink plenty of water. Pack carbohydrate-energy bars, granola candy or fruit for instant energy on your hikes.
