Text from
the OSHA Logging Compliance Directive, CPL 2-1.19J.
General Inspection Procedures.
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1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
a) Providing PPE. The CSHO shall determine through employer/employee
interviews whether, except for foot protection, the employer is providing, at no cost to
the employee, personal protective equipment which meets the requirements of this section.
b) Serviceability of PPE. The standard requires that the
employer assure that all personal protective equipment, including any personal protective
equipment provided by an employee, is maintained in a "serviceable condition"
and is inspected before initial use during a workshift. If personal protective equipment
is not used during a workshift it does not need to be inspected. The employer
may delegate the tasks of maintenance and inspection to the employee who uses the personal
protective equipment, but ultimately the employer remains responsible. There are different
ways in which employers can fulfill their obligation of assuring that personal protective
equipment is maintained and inspected. For example, one method an employer can use is
informing employees of the maintenance and inspection procedures during training,
reinforcing the requirements during regular safety and health meetings, and conducting
spot checks of employees who use personal protective equipment.
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