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  • U.S. - Employee-Paid PPE - 5/15/2008

    What's covered under the new rule?

    It was a long time coming, but on Nov. 15, 2007, OSHA finally issued its final rule on employer payment for personal protective equipment (PPE). Under the rule, all required PPE, with a few exceptions, must be provided at no cost to the employee. Employers must implement the PPE payment requirements no later than May 15, 2008.

    The rule does not specify the method that employees must use to pay for PPE. Many employers use allowances or reimbursement systems, or maintain a stock of PPE and hand it out to their employees. All these methods are acceptable, as long as the employee receives the PPE at no cost.


    Employers DO NOT have to pay for:

    • Non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (e.g., steel toe shoes/boots)
    • Non-specialty prescription safety eyewear
    • Sunglasses/sunscreen
    • Sturdy work boots
    • Ordinary cold weather gear (Coats, parkas, cold weather gloves, winter boots)
    • Logging boot required under Sec. 1910.266 (d)(1)(v)
    • Ordinary rain gear
    • Back belts
    • Long sleeve shirts
    • Long pants
    • Dust mask/respirators used under the voluntary use provisions in Sec. 1910.134


    Employers DO have to pay for:

    • Foot protection
    • Special boots for longshoremen working logs
    • Rubber boots with steel toes
    • Shoe covers - toe caps and metatarsal guards
    • Non-prescription eye protection
    • Prescription eyewear inserts/lenses for full face respirators
    • Prescription eyewear inserts/lenses for welding and diving helmets
    • Goggles
    • Face shields
    • Laser safety goggles
    • Fire fighting PPE (Helmets, gloves, boots, proximity suits, full gear)
    • Hard hats
    • Hearing protection
    • Welding PPE
    • Items use in medical/laboratory settings to protect from exposure to infectious agents (Aprons, lab coats, goggles, disposable gloves, shoe covers, etc.)
    • Non-specialty gloves: Payment is required if they are PPE, i.e. for protection from dermatitis or sever cuts/abrasions. Payment is not required if they are only for keeping clean or for cold weather (With no safety or health consideration)
    • Rubber gloves
    • Aluminized gloves
    • Chemical resistant gloves/aprons/clothing
    • Barrier creams (Unless used solely for weather-related protection)
    • Rubber insulating gloves
    • Mesh cut proof gloves, mesh, or leather aprons



    Information taken from NAFED FireWire newsletter, February 2008