OSHA issues final rule updating personal protective equipment standards

OSHA issued a press release on September 9 announcing a final rule revising the personal protective equipment (PPE) sections of its standards concerning requirements for eye- and face-protective devices, and head and foot protection. The final rule will become effective on Oct. 9.

"Workers exposed to occupational hazards requiring head, foot, or eye and face protection will now be provided protection based on a standard that reflects state-of-the-art technology and materials," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "This final rule is another step in OSHA's efforts to update or remove references to outdated national consensus and industry standards."

Amendments to the PPE standards include a requirement that filter lenses and plates in eye-protective equipment meet a test for transmission of radiant energy such as light or infrared.

EHStoday published an article on the new rule, including a quote from Daniel K. Shipp, president of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA): “We think they did the right thing (…) What OSHA has done now is simplify the process by incorporating by reference the three latest editions of the consensus standards for eye and face protection, head protection and foot protection, and also saying they will update these references by direct final rulemaking.”