PDFWAC 296-800-16020
Provide PPE to your employees.
You must provide PPE at no cost to employees if the PPE is:
(1) The type that would not reasonably or normally be worn away from the workplace, such as single use or disposable PPE.
(2) Required to comply with a safety and health standard to protect employees wherever hazards exist from:
(a) Processes;
(b) Environmental hazards;
(c) Physical, chemical, or radiological hazards; or
(d) Mechanical irritants that could cause injury or impairment to the function of any body part through absorption, inhalation, or physical contact.
Table-X: Employer Responsibility for Providing PPE
*This table provides examples only and is not all-inclusive.
Part of Body | PPE employers are required to provide at no cost to employees. | Items in which employer payment is not required. |
Head | Bump caps. Hard hat. Nonconductive head protection. | — |
Eye and Face | Face shields. Goggles. Laser safety goggles. Nonprescription eye protection. Prescription eyewear inserts/lenses for full-face respirators. Welding and diving helmets. | Nonspecialty prescription safety eyewear. |
Ear | Hearing protection. | — |
Hand/ Arm | Aluminized gloves. Barrier creams (unless used solely for weather-related protection). Chemical resistant gloves/aprons/ clothing. | Hand protection used only for keeping clean or for cold weather with no safety or health consideration. |
Mesh cut proof gloves. Mesh or leather aprons. Nonspecialty gloves if required to protect from dermatitis, severe cuts, or abrasions. Rubber insulating gloves. Rubber sleeves. | ||
Foot | Metatarsal foot protection. Rubber boots with steel toes. Shoe covers - Toe caps and metatarsal guards. Special boots for longshoremen working logs. | Nonspecialty safety-toe protective footwear such as steel-toe shoes or boots. Sturdy work shoes. Lineman's boots. Logging boots required under chapter 296-54 WAC. |
Other | Atmosphere-supplying respirators (escape only). Climbing ensembles used by linemen such as belts and climbing hooks. | Long sleeve shirts. Long pants. Ordinary cold weather gear (coats, parkas, cold weather gloves, winter boots). |
Level A - Fully encapsulated chemical protective suits. Level B - Chemical protective clothing. Personal fall arrest systems. Personal fall restraint systems. Firefighting PPE (helmet, gloves, boots, proximity suits, full gear). | Ordinary rain gear. Dust mask/respirators used under the voluntary use provisions in chapter 296-842 WAC. Back belts. Sunglasses. Sunscreen. | |
Ladder safety device belts. Personal floatation devices (life jackets). Class II or III high visibility garments that meet ANSI 107-2004 specifications. | ||
Respiratory protection. SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus). Welding PPE. | ||
Window cleaner's safety straps. Items such as aprons, lab coats, goggles, disposable gloves, shoe covers, etc., used in medical/ laboratory settings to protect from exposure to infectious agents. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 18-22-116, § 296-800-16020, filed 11/6/18, effective 12/7/18; WSR 09-05-071, § 296-800-16020, filed 2/17/09, effective 4/1/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 01-23-060, § 296-800-16020, filed 11/20/01, effective 12/1/01; WSR 01-11-038, § 296-800-16020, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01.]