Pop-Up 2J: The Impact of Proposed Changes in OSHA PPE Construction Standard
Tue, 5/21: 1:30 PM - 1:55 PM EDT
Pop-Up Education
Pop-Up Education
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Room: Pop-Up Education, Exhibit Hall AB, Aisle 1300
Description
In July of 2023, OSHA provided a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the Construction personal protective equipment standard to specifically require that the equipment must fit properly. While the rule may be several months to years in the making, what can construction firms do now to help ensure that their workers have a properly fitting PPE? This interactive session will cover the latest updates on the proposed rulemaking, 5 strategies for considering employee PPE fit in your existing PPE programs, and methods to assess fit for various types of PPE, including hearing protection, eye protection, and respiratory protection.
While personal protective equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense against hazards, it is often required in construction and in many industries while controls are being evaluated and put into place. Health and safety professionals play an important role in helping to ensure that all
workers, are provided with PPE that not only offers appropriate protection for the task, but also fits properly. OSHA reports "…(PPE) should fit
comfortably, encouraging worker use. If the personal protective equipment does not fit properly, it can make the difference between being safely covered or dangerously exposed."
Furthermore, a recent NIOSH blog suggests that "To promote health equity in the workplace, the future design of PPE and technology must
account for a wider range of human shapes and sizes to ensure accessibility for all workers." As the trades continue to become more diverse, the
approach to PPE selection may need to evolve to help ensure more equitable options for workers. To address this issue, NIOSH and others, such
as manufacturers, have studied anthropometric data and have begun to apply this data to create new criteria for designing PPE. PPE performance depends on the combination of the right fit, compliance, and comfort.
This interactive session on the Science of Fit, can help inform employers of the key considerations when choosing PPE for the diversity of people in today's construction workforce and other industries. In this session, we will share recent innovations in PPE to help increase the range of comfort and options for fitting a variety of body shapes, strategies to help in PPE selection such as fit testing techniques for respirators, hearing protection and eye wear will be explored.
This session is not available for contact hours.
While personal protective equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense against hazards, it is often required in construction and in many industries while controls are being evaluated and put into place. Health and safety professionals play an important role in helping to ensure that all
workers, are provided with PPE that not only offers appropriate protection for the task, but also fits properly. OSHA reports "…(PPE) should fit
comfortably, encouraging worker use. If the personal protective equipment does not fit properly, it can make the difference between being safely covered or dangerously exposed."
Furthermore, a recent NIOSH blog suggests that "To promote health equity in the workplace, the future design of PPE and technology must
account for a wider range of human shapes and sizes to ensure accessibility for all workers." As the trades continue to become more diverse, the
approach to PPE selection may need to evolve to help ensure more equitable options for workers. To address this issue, NIOSH and others, such
as manufacturers, have studied anthropometric data and have begun to apply this data to create new criteria for designing PPE. PPE performance depends on the combination of the right fit, compliance, and comfort.
This interactive session on the Science of Fit, can help inform employers of the key considerations when choosing PPE for the diversity of people in today's construction workforce and other industries. In this session, we will share recent innovations in PPE to help increase the range of comfort and options for fitting a variety of body shapes, strategies to help in PPE selection such as fit testing techniques for respirators, hearing protection and eye wear will be explored.
This session is not available for contact hours.
Learning Outcomes
List 5 questions to help assess their PPE program's readiness to meet the proposed changes.
Identify two best practices that construction firms can implement to help assess PPE fit for their work force.
Identify two best practices that construction firms can implement to help assess PPE fit for their work force.
Content Level
Introductory
Topics
Also part of the Virtual Program
Construction
Standards, Regulations and Legal Issues