OSHA general industry personal protective equipment study guide
Subpart I of OSHA's general industry rules (29 CFR 1910.132 to 1910.140) covers personal protective equipment. This guide sets out what the rule text states on hazard assessment and its written certification, PPE training, who pays for PPE, eye and face, head, foot and hand protection, and the basics of respiratory protection: the written program, voluntary use, medical evaluation and fit testing. Electrical protective equipment (1910.137) and personal fall protection systems (1910.140) have their own detailed rules that this guide does not cover. Consensus standards the rule incorporates (such as ANSI Z87.1 and Z89.1) are only named here, not summarized. Every point links to the regulation and quotes its exact words.
Hazard assessment and selection
Protective equipment (for eyes, face, head and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers) must be provided, used and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary because of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants that can injure or impair any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.
“Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.”
When employees bring their own protective equipment, the employer is still responsible for making sure it is adequate, including its maintenance and sanitation.
“Where employees provide their own protective equipment, the employer shall be responsible to assure its adequacy, including proper maintenance, and sanitation of such equipment.”
The employer must assess the workplace to find out whether hazards are present, or likely to be present, that make PPE necessary.
“The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).”
If such hazards are present or likely, the employer must select PPE that protects against the hazards found and have each affected employee use it, tell each affected employee about the selection decisions, and select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.
“If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall: (i) Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment; (ii) Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and, (iii) Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.”
The employer must verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification. The certification identifies the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, and the date(s) of the hazard assessment, and it identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.
“The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.”
Defective or damaged PPE must not be used.
“Defective or damaged personal protective equipment shall not be used.”
The hazard assessment paragraph (d) and the training paragraph (f) of 1910.132 apply only to 1910.133, 1910.135, 1910.136, 1910.138 and 1910.140 (eye and face, head, foot, hand and personal fall protection). They do not apply to 1910.134 (respiratory protection) or 1910.137 (electrical protective equipment).
“Paragraphs (d) and (f) of this section apply only to §§ 1910.133, 1910.135, 1910.136, 1910.138, and 1910.140. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of this section do not apply to §§ 1910.134 and 1910.137.”
Appendix B to Subpart I, headed "Nonmandatory Compliance Guidelines for Hazard Assessment and Personal Protective Equipment Selection", is guidance, not a requirement. It says PPE devices alone should not be relied on to provide protection against hazards, but should be used together with guards, engineering controls and sound manufacturing practices.
“PPE devices alone should not be relied on to provide protection against hazards, but should be used in conjunction with guards, engineering controls, and sound manufacturing practices.”
Not covered here
The rest of non-mandatory Appendix B (its survey steps and selection guidelines) is guidance, not a requirement, and is not summarized here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
PPE training
The employer must train each employee who is required by 1910.132 to use PPE.
“The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use PPE.”
Each such employee must be trained to know at least: when PPE is necessary; what PPE is necessary; how to properly don, doff, adjust and wear it; its limitations; and its proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal.
“Each such employee shall be trained to know at least the following: (i) When PPE is necessary; (ii) What PPE is necessary; (iii) How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE; (iv) The limitations of the PPE; and, (v) The proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the PPE.”
Before being allowed to do work that requires PPE, each affected employee must show an understanding of the training and the ability to use PPE properly.
“Each affected employee shall demonstrate an understanding of the training specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, and the ability to use PPE properly, before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE.”
When the employer has reason to believe that an affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by 1910.132(f)(2), the employer must retrain that employee.
“When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by paragraph (f)(2) of this section, the employer shall retrain each such employee.”
Situations where retraining is required include, but are not limited to: changes in the workplace that make previous training obsolete, changes in the types of PPE to be used that make previous training obsolete, and inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE showing the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.
“Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where: (i) Changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete; or (ii) Changes in the types of PPE to be used render previous training obsolete; or (iii) Inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.”
Paying for PPE
Except as listed in 1910.132(h)(2) through (h)(6), protective equipment (including PPE) used to comply with Part 1910 must be provided by the employer at no cost to employees.
“Except as provided by paragraphs (h)(2) through (h)(6) of this section, the protective equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), used to comply with this part, shall be provided by the employer at no cost to employees.”
The employer is not required to pay for non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-toe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, provided that the employer permits these items to be worn off the job-site.
“The employer is not required to pay for non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-toe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, provided that the employer permits such items to be worn off the job-site.”
When the employer provides metatarsal guards and lets an employee, at the employee's request, use shoes or boots with built-in metatarsal protection, the employer does not have to reimburse the employee for those shoes or boots.
“When the employer provides metatarsal guards and allows the employee, at his or her request, to use shoes or boots with built-in metatarsal protection, the employer is not required to reimburse the employee for the shoes or boots.”
The employer is also not required to pay for the logging boots required by 1910.266(d)(1)(v); everyday clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, long pants, street shoes and normal work boots; or ordinary clothing, skin creams or other items used solely for protection from weather, such as winter coats, rubber boots, raincoats, ordinary sunglasses and sunscreen.
“The employer is not required to pay for: (i) The logging boots required by 29 CFR 1910.266(d)(1)(v); (ii) Everyday clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, long pants, street shoes, and normal work boots; or (iii) Ordinary clothing, skin creams, or other items, used solely for protection from weather, such as winter coats, jackets, gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats, raincoats, ordinary sunglasses, and sunscreen.”
The employer must pay for replacement PPE, except when the employee has lost or intentionally damaged it.
“The employer must pay for replacement PPE, except when the employee has lost or intentionally damaged the PPE.”
Where an employee provides adequate protective equipment they own (under 1910.132(b)), the employer may allow its use and is not required to reimburse the employee for it. The employer must not require an employee to provide or pay for their own PPE unless the PPE is excepted by (h)(2) through (h)(5).
“Where an employee provides adequate protective equipment he or she owns pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, the employer may allow the employee to use it and is not required to reimburse the employee for that equipment. The employer shall not require an employee to provide or pay for his or her own PPE, unless the PPE is excepted by paragraphs (h)(2) through (h)(5) of this section.”
The payment paragraph became effective on February 13, 2008, and employers had to implement it no later than May 15, 2008.
“This paragraph (h) shall become effective on February 13, 2008. Employers must implement the PPE payment requirements no later than May 15, 2008.”
A note to 1910.132(h) says that when another OSHA standard specifies whether or not the employer must pay for specific equipment, that standard's payment provisions prevail.
“When the provisions of another OSHA standard specify whether or not the employer must pay for specific equipment, the payment provisions of that standard shall prevail.”
Eye and face protection
The employer must ensure each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.
“uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.”
The employer must ensure each affected employee uses eye protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Detachable side protectors (such as clip-on or slide-on side shields) meeting the pertinent requirements of the section are acceptable.
“The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses eye protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Detachable side protectors (e.g. clip-on or slide-on side shields) meeting the pertinent requirements of this section are acceptable.”
An employee who wears prescription lenses in operations involving eye hazards must wear eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or eye protection that fits over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of either set of lenses.
“wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses.”
Eye and face PPE must be distinctly marked so the manufacturer can be identified.
“Eye and face PPE shall be distinctly marked to facilitate identification of the manufacturer.”
For protection from injurious light radiation, the employer must ensure each affected employee uses equipment with filter lenses that have a shade number appropriate for the work being performed. The section then lists appropriate shade numbers for various operations.
“uses equipment with filter lenses that have a shade number appropriate for the work being performed for protection from injurious light radiation. The following is a listing of appropriate shade numbers for various operations.”
Eye and face protection devices that the employer demonstrates are at least as effective as devices constructed in accordance with one of the consensus standards listed in 1910.133(b)(1) are deemed to comply with the section.
“Protective eye and face protection devices that the employer demonstrates are at least as effective as protective eye and face protection devices that are constructed in accordance with one of the above consensus standards will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.”
Not covered here
The full shade-number table in 1910.133(a)(5) is not reproduced here; read it in the regulation. The content of the ANSI Z87.1 standards is not summarized. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Head, foot and hand protection
The employer must ensure each affected employee wears a protective helmet when working where there is a potential for head injury from falling objects.
“wears a protective helmet when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects.”
A protective helmet designed to reduce electrical shock hazard must be worn when near exposed electrical conductors that could contact the head.
“a protective helmet designed to reduce electrical shock hazard is worn by each such affected employee when near exposed electrical conductors which could contact the head.”
Head protection devices that the employer demonstrates are at least as effective as head protection constructed in accordance with one of the consensus standards listed in 1910.135(b)(1) are deemed to comply with the section.
“Head protection devices that the employer demonstrates are at least as effective as head protection devices that are constructed in accordance with one of the above consensus standards will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.”
Protective footwear is required where there is a danger of foot injuries from falling or rolling objects or objects piercing the sole, or when it will protect the employee from an electrical hazard (such as static-discharge or electric-shock) that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures.
“uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures.”
Employers must select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns and harmful temperature extremes.
“Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.”
The choice of hand protection must be based on an evaluation of its performance characteristics relative to the tasks, the conditions present, the duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified.
“Employers shall base the selection of the appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified.”
Not covered here
The content of the ANSI and ASTM footwear and headwear standards named in 1910.135 and 1910.136. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Respiratory protection program
In controlling occupational diseases caused by breathing contaminated air, the primary objective is to prevent atmospheric contamination, as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). Appropriate respirators are used when effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted.
“the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination. This shall be accomplished as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used pursuant to this section.”
A respirator must be provided to each employee when it is necessary to protect the employee's health, and the employer is responsible for establishing and maintaining a respiratory protection program.
“A respirator shall be provided to each employee when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of such employee. The employer shall provide the respirators which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended. The employer shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program”
Where respirators are necessary to protect employee health, or whenever the employer requires them, the employer must establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures, updated as needed when workplace conditions affecting respirator use change.
“In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use.”
The program must include, as applicable, procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace, medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators, fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators, and procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations. The list in 1910.134(c)(1) continues with further elements.
“The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable: (i) Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace; (ii) Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators; (iii) Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators; (iv) Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;”
The employer must designate a program administrator qualified by appropriate training or experience matching the program's complexity.
“The employer shall designate a program administrator who is qualified by appropriate training or experience that is commensurate with the complexity of the program”
Respirators, training and medical evaluations must be provided at no cost to the employee.
“The employer shall provide respirators, training, and medical evaluations at no cost to the employee.”
The employer must select a NIOSH-certified respirator and use it in line with the conditions of its certification.
“The employer shall select a NIOSH-certified respirator. The respirator shall be used in compliance with the conditions of its certification.”
Respirator retraining must be given annually, and when changes in the workplace or the type of respirator make previous training obsolete, when inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of the respirator show the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill, or in any other situation in which retraining appears necessary to ensure safe respirator use.
“Retraining shall be administered annually, and when the following situations occur: (i) Changes in the workplace or the type of respirator render previous training obsolete; (ii) Inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of the respirator indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill; or (iii) Any other situation arises in which retraining appears necessary to ensure safe respirator use.”
Not covered here
The remaining program elements listed in 1910.134(c)(1) (maintenance schedules, breathing air, training, program evaluation), respirator selection tables (assigned protection factors), IDLH respirator rules, cleaning, storage, breathing air and recordkeeping in 1910.134 are not covered in detail. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Voluntary respirator use
Where respirator use is not required, an employer may provide respirators at employees' request or let employees use their own, if the employer determines that the respirator use will not in itself create a hazard.
“Where respirator use is not required: (i) An employer may provide respirators at the request of employees or permit employees to use their own respirators, if the employer determines that such respirator use will not in itself create a hazard.”
If the employer determines that any voluntary respirator use is permissible, it must provide the respirator users with the information in Appendix D to 1910.134 ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard").
“If the employer determines that any voluntary respirator use is permissible, the employer shall provide the respirator users with the information contained in appendix D to this section ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard")”
The employer must also establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program needed to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use it, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user.
“In addition, the employer must establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user.”
Exception: employees whose only respirator use is voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks) do not have to be included in a written respiratory protection program.
“Employers are not required to include in a written respiratory protection program those employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks).”
Appendix D to 1910.134, which its heading labels Mandatory, tells voluntary users to read and heed all the manufacturer's instructions on use, maintenance, cleaning and care, and warnings about the respirator's limitations, and to choose respirators certified for use to protect against the contaminant of concern. NIOSH certifies respirators.
“1. Read and heed all instructions provided by the manufacturer on use, maintenance, cleaning and care, and warnings regarding the respirators limitations. 2. Choose respirators certified for use to protect against the contaminant of concern. NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, certifies respirators.”
Appendix D also tells voluntary users not to wear the respirator into atmospheres containing contaminants it is not designed to protect against (for example, a respirator designed to filter dust particles will not protect against gases, vapors, or very small solid particles of fumes or smoke), and to keep track of their respirator so they do not mistakenly use someone else's.
“3. Do not wear your respirator into atmospheres containing contaminants for which your respirator is not designed to protect against. For example, a respirator designed to filter dust particles will not protect you against gases, vapors, or very small solid particles of fumes or smoke. 4. Keep track of your respirator so that you do not mistakenly use someone else's respirator.”
Medical evaluation and fit testing
The employer must provide a medical evaluation of the employee's ability to use a respirator before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace.
“The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace.”
The employer must identify a physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to perform medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination that obtains the same information as the questionnaire.
“The employer shall identify a physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to perform medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination that obtains the same information as the medical questionnaire.”
The questionnaire and examinations are administered confidentially during the employee's normal working hours or at a time and place convenient to the employee.
“The medical questionnaire and examinations shall be administered confidentially during the employee's normal working hours or at a time and place convenient to the employee.”
The employer must ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested before initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually after that.
“The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.”
The employer must conduct an additional fit test whenever the employee reports, or the employer, PLHCP, supervisor or program administrator observes, changes in the employee's physical condition that could affect respirator fit. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight.
“The employer shall conduct an additional fit test whenever the employee reports, or the employer, PLHCP, supervisor, or program administrator makes visual observations of, changes in the employee's physical condition that could affect respirator fit. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight.”
If the fit factor, as determined through an OSHA-accepted quantitative fit test (QNFT) protocol, is equal to or greater than 100 for tight-fitting half facepieces, or equal to or greater than 500 for tight-fitting full facepieces, the QNFT has been passed with that respirator.
“If the fit factor, as determined through an OSHA-accepted QNFT protocol, is equal to or greater than 100 for tight-fitting half facepieces, or equal to or greater than 500 for tight-fitting full facepieces, the QNFT has been passed with that respirator.”
The employer must not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function, or who have any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function.
“The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have: (A) Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or (B) Any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function.”
For all tight-fitting respirators, the employer must ensure that employees perform a user seal check each time they put on the respirator, using the procedures in Appendix B-1 or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer that the employer demonstrates are as effective.
“For all tight-fitting respirators, the employer shall ensure that employees perform a user seal check each time they put on the respirator using the procedures in appendix B-1 or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer that the employer demonstrates are as effective as those in appendix B-1 of this section.”
Not covered here
The step-by-step fit test protocols (Appendix A), seal check procedures (Appendix B-1) and the medical questionnaire (Appendix C) are not reproduced here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Sources
- eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.132, General requirements (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
- eCFR: 29 CFR Part 1910, Appendix B to Subpart I, Nonmandatory Compliance Guidelines for Hazard Assessment and Personal Protective Equipment Selection (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
- eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.133, Eye and face protection (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
- eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.135, Head protection (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
- eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.136, Foot protection (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
- eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.138, Hand protection (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
- eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.134, Respiratory protection (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
Other OSHA General Industry study guides: Walking-working surfaces, Exit routes and emergency planning, Fire protection, Electrical safety, Hazardous materials, Permit-required confined spaces, Lockout/tagout, Machine guarding, Welding, cutting and brazing, Electric power generation, transmission and distribution, Powered industrial trucks (forklifts), Materials handling and storage, Bloodborne pathogens, Occupational noise exposure