DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1910

[Docket No. S-060]

RIN 1218-AA71

Personal Protective Equipment for General Industry

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Labor.

ACTION: Final Rule.

SUMMARY: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is revising portions of the general industry safety standards addressing personal protective equipment (PPE). The standards being revised include those containing general requirements for all PPE (1910.132) and standards that set design, selection, and use requirements for specific types of PPE (eye, face, head, foot and hand).

The Agency is updating the standards for PPE to be more consistent with the current consensus regarding good industry practices, as reflected by the latest editions of the pertinent American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. The revision will provide guidance for the selection and use of PPE as well as clearer requirements that are performance-oriented, where appropriate.

New paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) (containing requirements covering equipment selection, defective and damaged equipment, and training, respectively) have been added to 1910.132. Also, a new section (1910.138) has been added to this Subpart to address hazards to the hands.

Non-mandatory appendices A and B have also been added to this Subpart to provide additional guidance to employers and employees with regard to PPE for eye, face, head, foot, and hand hazards.

DATES: This standard will become effective on July 5, 1994. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the standards is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 6, 1994.

ADDRESS: In compliance with 28 U.S.C. 2112(a), the Agency designates for receipt of petitions for review of the standard the Associate Solicitor for Occupational Safety and Health, Office of the Solicitor, Room S-4004, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James F. Foster, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-8151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In this preamble, OSHA identifies sources of information submitted to the record by an exhibit number (Ex. 3). When applicable, comment numbers follow the exhibit in which they are contained (Ex. 3: 1). If more than one comment within an exhibit is cited, the comment numbers are separated by commas (Ex. 3: 1, 2, 3). The page number is also cited if other than page 1 (Ex. 3: 2, pg. 8). The transcript of the hearing is cited by the page number followed by identification of the hearing date (Tr. 80: 4/3). Exhibit and transcript citations are separated by semicolons (Ex. 3: Ex. 7; Tr. 80: 4/3).

[59 FR 16334, April 6, 1994]