(November 14, 2007) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) and Congressman George Miller (CA-7) said that they welcome a final rule issued today (11/14/07) by the U.S. Department of Labor to require employers to pay for personal protective equipment for workers, but they questioned why it took so long for the Department to act. The rule was first proposed nearly a decade ago, but the Department did not issue the rule until after it was taken to court over the issue, and after Miller and Roybal-Allard introduced legislation forcing it to act.

“This OSHA rule requiring employer payment for personal protective equipment is long overdue and essential to workers’ health and safety on the job,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. “Although I am pleased that the Department has finally released the rule, it is tragic that so many workers – many of whom are low-income or immigrant workers in dangerous jobs – have been injured or killed while the Department of Labor stalled on issuing this critical rule.”

“It should have never taken the threat of a lawsuit and legislation to get the Department of Labor to take these simple steps to protect workers from everyday jobsite hazards and prevent thousands of workplace injuries each year,” said Congressman Miller, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “While this long delay was unnecessary and unfortunate, I’m glad to see the Department has finally acted.”

Miller and Roybal-Allard introduced legislation in March to force the Labor Department to issue a final Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard requiring employers to cover costs for workers’ personal protective equipment, such as respirators, chemical resistant clothing, metal mesh gloves, lifelines and lanyards, safety glasses, face shields, and other basic safety equipment needed to keep workers safe on the job. The Department had delayed issuing the new standard since it was first proposed in 1999. The final regulation, which will be issued tomorrow, will take effect in six months.

By OSHA’s own estimates, the implementation of the new rule will prevent more than jobsite 21,000 injuries each year. In 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were more than 4 million worker injuries and more than 5,700 deaths in the private sector. 

Since 1979, following the outcome of a California Supreme Court case, California has required employers to pay the entire cost of employee personal protection equipment. The final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor creates a uniform federal standard throughout the country.