Changes in PPE Standards
September 17th, 2009
OSHA has released its final rule in Wednesday’s Federal Register regarding changes in the PPE standards. This change is only for General Industry (1910), Shipyards (1915), Longshoring (1917) and Marine terminals (1918).
“OSHA is issuing this final rule to revise the personal protective equipment (PPE) sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, long-shoring, and marine teriminals standards regarding requirements for eye- and face-protective devices, head protection, and foot protection. OSHA is updating the references in its regulations to recognize more recent editions of the applicable national consensus standards, and is deleting editions of the national consensus standards that PPE must meet if purchased before a specified date. In addition, OSHA is amending its provision that requires safety shoes to comply with a specific American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard, and a provision that requires filter lenses and plates in eye-protective equipment to meet a test for transmission of radiant energy specified by another ANSI standard. In amending these paragraphs, OSHA will require this safety equipment to comply with the applicable PPE design provisions. These revisions are a continuation of OSHA’s effort to update or remove references to specific consensus and industry standards located throughout its standards.”
[Federal Register: September 9, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 173)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 46350-46361] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09se09-20]
The original standard required that employers require their employees to compy with the national l consensus standards referenced into the OSHA standards, unless the employer can demonstrate that their PPE is as effective as the PPE that complies with the incorporated national standard.
Some of these referenced standards were over 10 years old and in some cases well over 20 years old. To bring the standard into a more realistic existence OSHA has made the following changes:
Effective October 5, 2009
“OSHA is updating the references to national consensus standards in the PPE sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring, and marine terminals rules, thereby explicitly allowing employers to use PPE constructed in accordance with the most recent national consensus standards……. (OSHA) has decided to allow employers to use any of three editions of the national consensus standards, which consist of the post-1986 editions they must use currently and either of the two most recent editions of these standards.”[Federal Register: September 9, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 173)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 46350-46361] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09se09-20]
What this will mean to you is that you have three consensus (ANSI, i.e.) standards in which to choose when meeting the OSHA requirement. You may use the standard referenced in the OSHA subpart, or you may use one of the two most recent editions of these standards.
For more information regarding this change please go to:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-21360.htm
or contact us
