EPA/OSHA
December 10, 2007
OSHA Issues Final Rule Clarifying Payment for Employee Protective Gear
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) last month announced a final rule clarifying employer and employee payment responsibilities for personal protective equipment. Employers will have up to six months to make any changes, if necessary, to their existing policies.
According to the new Personal Protective Equipment Payment Standard, employers are not required to pay for work shoes and boots or protective eyewear, unless the employee is required to leave them at work. Employers will be expected to pay for specialty eyewear, such as prescription eyeglass inserts for full-face respirators, and thermal protection gear, such as freezer suits, for employees working in freezers.
Because the rule doesn't specify payment methods, employers may decide how they prefer to pay for the equipment, as long as it remains at no cost to the employee.
The rule will become effective February 13, 2008, and employers will be expected to implement any necessary changes by May 15, 2008. To read the Personal Protective Equipment Payment Standard fact sheet, click here. To read the final rule, click here.
For more information, contact Clay Detlefsen, IDFA vice president of regulatory affairs, at 202-220-3554.
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