April 11, 2008
Did you know...?
Starting May 15, employers are required to provide personal protective equipment at no cost to employees.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. On November 14, 2007 the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a final rule on employer-paid personal protective equipment (PPE). The rule added a new paragraph to existing standard 29 CFR 1910.132, Personal Protective Equipment. The new paragraph requires employers to provide required PPE at no cost to employees.
The change applies to general industry, construction, shipyard, alongshore and marine terminal workplaces. OSHA anticipates that this rule will have substantial safety benefits that will result in more than 21,000 fewer occupational injuries per year.
The final rule must be implemented by May 15, 2008. PPE required by OSHA standards or by the employer's worksite hazard assessment (1910.132(d)) must be paid for by the employer. Examples include but are not limited to: hard hats; hearing protection; welding helmets and shields; work gloves when required; metatarsal guards or boots; steel-toe-rubber boots or shoes with non-slip soles; specialty prescription eyewear (such as needed to allow employees to wear respirators); respirators required to comply with OSHA standards. Items that are not included include items not required by OSHA standard such as uniforms or clothing worn for purposes unrelated to worker safety; hand tools; ordinary prescription safety eyewear (unless the employer requires the glasses to remain at work); respirators used under voluntary use provisions of 29 CFR 1910.134; non-specific safety-toe protective footwear; clothing or items used solely for protection from routine weather conditions such as raincoats, sunglasses, etc; the replacement of PPE that the employee has lost or intentionally damaged.
The type of PPE worn is not changed by the new paragraph. If employees prefer to use their own PPE and the employer agrees, the employer is not required to pay for such equipment but the employer remains responsible for ensuring that the PPE is adequate for the job, including proper maintenance and sanitation of such equipment. The employer is responsible for replacement of worn-out or broken PPE and consumable components of PPE except when employees have lost or intentionally damaged the PPE or choose to provide their own PPE.
Some specific OSHA PPE standards previously required employers to pay for PPE (such as respirator protection). The new paragraph requires employers to pay for all PPE with a few exceptions as mentioned above. States with state OSHA plans will be required to revise their plans by May 15 if they do not meet or exceed the new federal requirements. State plans may be more stringent than federal requirements.
To read more about standard 29 CFR 1910.132, visit the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov.
*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*
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Blue Springs Clinical Facility |
Independence Clinical Facility |
Johnson County Clinical Facility |
St. Joseph Clinical Facility |
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801 NW St. Mary’s Drive |
19000 E. Eastland Center Crt, St. 200 |
10415 Lackman Road |
904 Edmond Street |
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Blue Springs, MO 64104 |
Independence, MO 64055 |
Lenexa, KS 66219 |
St. Joseph, MO 64501 |
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816-224-9121 |
816-478-9299 |
913-495-9905 |
816-233-7702 |
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After Hours Available |
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KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility |
KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility |
Wyandotte County Clinical Facility |
Grandview Clinical Facility |
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1650 Broadway |
6501 East Commerce, Suite 110 |
1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200 |
13830 S Us Highway 71 |
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Kansas City, MO 64108 |
Kansas City, MO 64120 |
Kansas City, KS 66102 |
Grandview, MO 64030 |
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816-842-2020 |
816-483-5550 |
913-596-2774 |
816-761-4664 |