Here’s one safety question I’ve gotten on personal protective equipment (PPE). If you have other questions, send them to me. I’ll answer and post the question for others who may have the same issue.

Q: Does the PPE required when using heavy machinery depend on the type of job being done? For instance, will the PPE be the same whether I’m cutting wood or cutting metal?

Hazards of cutting woodA: The PPE required should always be based on a job specific assessment to determine the appropriate PPE for the task. That is why the PPE standard requires having a written certification of the assessment that was done showing the need (1910.132(d)).

What is required on a saw could be different than what is required on a grinder. For instance, the hazards created by wood could be different than what is created by metal.

Resources

» Personal Protective Equipment, General Requirements
» Standard Interpretations referencing 1910.132.

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