Personal Protective Equipment

Standards

Personal protective equipment (PPE) hazards are addressed in specific standards for the construction industry.

NOTICE:

Revision to 1926.95, Criteria for personal protective equipment
Personal Protective Equipment in Construction; Final Rule. The revision to the standard adds specific language requiring that employers provide PPE that properly fits construction industry workers. The change aligns the construction industry standard with the standard already in place for general industry. The Final Rule is effective January 13, 2025.

FAQs

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, Federal Register notices (rules and proposed rules), directives (instruction to OSHA staff), and letters of interpretation (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to PPE in the construction industry.

Construction (29 CFR 1926)
Construction (29 CFR 1926)		Related Information
1926 Subpart C - General Safety and Health Provisions		Related Information
1926 Subpart C - General Safety and Health Provisions	1926.28, Personal protective equipment.	Related Information
1926 Subpart E - Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment
	1926.95, Criteria for personal protective equipment.	Related Information
	1926.96, Occupational foot protection.	Related Information
	1926.100, Head protection.	Related Information
	1926.101, Hearing protection.	Related Information
	1926.102, Eye and face protection.	Related Information
	1926.103, Respiratory protection.	Related Information
	1926.104, Safety belts, lifelines, and lanyards.	Related Information
	1926.105, Safety nets.	Related Information
	1926.106, Working over or near water.	Related Information
	1926.107, Definitions applicable to this subpart.	Related Information
1926 Subpart M
	1926.500, Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart.	Related Information
	1926.501, Duty to have fall protection.	Related Information
	1926.502, Fall protection systems criteria and practices.	Related Information
	1926.503, Training requirements.	Related Information
1926 Subpart P - Excavations
	1926.651, Specific Excavation Requirements.	Related Information
	1926.652, Requirements for protective systems.	Related Information

State Plan Standards

There are 29 OSHA-approved State Plans operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements.

Additional Federal Register notices

Note: The notices in this list provide additional information that is not necessarily connected to a specific OSHA standard highlighted on this Safety and Health Topics page.

Employer Payment for Personal Protective Equipment; Final Rule. Final Rule 72:64341-64430, (November 15, 2007).

Additional Letters of Interpretation

Note: The letters in this list provide additional information that is not necessarily connected to a specific OSHA standard highlighted on this Safety and Health Topics page.

Requirements for carrying and stacking lumber with nails. (January 25, 2006).
Relevance of NFPA 70E industry consensus standard to OSHA requirements; whether OSHA requirements apply to owners. (July 25, 2003).
Citations for the wearing of short pants by employees engaged in hot tar and asphalt construction work. (April 17, 1997).
Clarification of 1926.28(a) as to whether an orange vest constitutes personal protective equipment. (July 23, 1984).

Hazards and Solutions

Women in the Construction Workplace: Providing Equitable Safety and Health Protection. OSHA and the Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (ACCSH), (June 1999). Contains a section on PPE. Describes difficulties women have in finding properly fitting PPE when working in construction occupations.
Worker Safety Series - Construction. OSHA Publication 3252, (2005).

Additional Resources

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

Other Resources

Drilled Shaft Installation Safety Tips for the Employer and Employee. OSHA and the ADSC: International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC) Alliance. Describes general safety tips to help prevent injuries and illnesses in the drilled shaft foundation industry.
Working Safely During Installation of Drilled Shaft Foundations. OSHA and the ADSC: International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC) Alliance. Identifies hazards associated with the installation of drilled shaft foundations and safe work practices to help reduce or eliminate the risk of injuries or illnesses.