What are the OSHA standards that specifically require personal protective equipment (PPE)?

Nearly 140 OSHA standards require PPE across the General Industry, Shipyards, Marine Terminals, Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring, and Safety and Health Regulations for Construction categories. Items that qualify as PPE under OSHA standards include personal fall arrest, eye/face protection, hand/arm protection, foot protection, respiratory protection, head protection, hearing protection, protective clothing, lifesaving equipment (i.e., life preservers, jackets) and firefighting PPE. (Editor's note: Mr. Fairfax has furnished ISEA with an unofficial list of the nearly 140 specific OSHA standards that require PPE; an electronic version is available by emailing your request to ISEA's Joe Walker, [email protected].)

Protection Update posed this question to Richard Fairfax, director of OSHA's Directorate of Enforcement Programs, Washington, D.C.

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If you have a question you would like OSHA to answer in a future Protection Update, send it to Joe Walker, Protection Update editor, [email protected], or to the International Safety Equipment Association, 1901 N. Moore St., Suite 808, Arlington, VA 22209, or fax to 703-491-3304. Limit your questions to interpretations of OSHA regulations or existing programs, rather than inquiring about policy or legislation.