To ensure the greatest possible protection for employees in the workplace, the cooperative efforts of both employers and employees will help in establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful work environment.

In general, employers are responsible for:

• Performing a “hazard assessment” of the workplace to identify and control physical and 
• health hazards.
• Identifying and providing appropriate PPE for employees.
• Training employees in the use and care of the PPE.
• Maintaining PPE, including replacing worn or damaged PPE.
• Periodically reviewing, updating and evaluating the effective- ness of the PPE program.

In general, employees should:

• Properly wear PPE,
• Attend training sessions on PPE,
• Care for, clean and maintain PPE, and
• Inform a supervisor of the need to repair or replace PPE.

Specific requirements for PPE are presented in many different OSHA standards, published in 29 CFR. Some standards require that employers provide PPE at no cost to the employee while others simply state that the employer must provide PPE. Appendix A at page 40 lists those standards that require the employer to provide PPE and those that require the employer to provide PPE at no cost to the employee.

In a final rule on employer-paid PPE published in November 2007, all PPE, with a few exceptions, will be provided at no cost to the employee. The Nov. 2007 final rule also clarified OSHA’s requirements regarding payment for employee-owned PPE and for replacement PPE. The final rule is published at 72 Fed. Reg. 64341-64430 (Nov. 15, 2007).