Personal Protective Equipment — General Industry

OSHA's Personal Protective Equipment standard for general industry (29 CFR 1910 Subpart I) requires employers to perform a written hazard assessment, select appropriate PPE based on identified hazards, communicate PPE selections to workers, train workers, and pay for most required PPE. The hierarchy of controls must be applied first — PPE is only appropriate when hazards cannot be adequately controlled by elimination, substitution, engineering controls, or administrative controls. PPE does not eliminate the hazard; it creates a barrier between the worker and the hazard.

Hazard assessment: The written certification must identify the workplace evaluated, the date, the person certifying, and the PPE selected. Different areas or tasks within a facility may require different PPE. Head protection (ANSI Z89.1): Class E (electrical, 20kV) for electrical workers, Class G (general, 2.2kV), and Class C (conductive, no electrical protection). Eye and face protection (ANSI Z87.1): safety glasses for impact, goggles for chemical splash, face shields (over safety glasses) for grinding and chemical operations. Hearing protection is required when noise exposures reach 85 dB TWA (action level) — earplugs or earmuffs with appropriate Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR). Chemical-resistant gloves must match the specific chemical — nitrile for many organic chemicals, neoprene for acids, latex for biological hazards (check SDS for recommendations).

Respiratory protection (29 CFR 1910.134) requires a written respiratory protection program when respirators are required, including: selection by a qualified person, medical evaluation before use, fit testing for tight-fitting respirators before first use and annually, training, and regular inspection and maintenance. N95 respirators (filter 95% of particles) are common in general industry for dust and some biological hazards. Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) are used for workers who cannot pass fit tests. Supplied Air Respirators (SAR) and SCBA are required for immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) atmospheres.