The OSHA Standard on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 1910.132, details the employer's responsibility in providing appropriate equipment for employees. Employees can be exposed to occupational hazards that are capable of causing injury or impairment through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.
OSHA requires the use of PPE to reduce employees' exposures to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing exposures to acceptable levels.
The following forms are available to assist the employer in compliance with the standard. (Note: forms are in Microsoft Word format).
- Form A - Helps the individual conducting the PPE assessment for the particular job, position or department. The form offers assistance to the assessor by providing examples of hazards that are present or are likely to be present as part of the assessment. In addition to the on-site assessment, reports such as incident logs, first reports of injury forms, first aid logs and previous OSHA 200 logs and current OSHA 300 logs should be included as part of the evaluation. The assessor should document any related hazards.
- Form B - Assists the employer in documenting the selected type of PPE and sizes available for employees. Employees must be involved in the selection of appropriate PPE. Remember, one size does not fit all
- Form C - Training documentation tool. Training is required for each employee who will wear PPE. As part of the training, each employee must demonstrate an understanding of the training and the ability to use PPE properly. Retraining is necessary when changes in the workplace or PPE render previous training obsolete and when an employee's knowledge or skill of use of PPE is observed as inadequate.
- Form D - Provides the necessary documentation for a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated, dates of assessment and the name of person certifying that the evaluation has been performed.
Always refer to the standard for 100 percent compliance information. The forms can be used for assistance and general guidance, but should not be considered as a definitive interpretation for compliance with OSHA requirements. Please consult other OSHA Standards on PPE, including, but not limited to Eye and Face Protection (1910.133), Respiratory Protection (1910.134), Head Protection (1910.134), Occupational Foot Protection (1910.136), Electrical Protective Devices (1910.137), Hand Protection (1910.138), and Bloodborne Pathogens (1910.1030).