Construction PPE rule leaves OMB

OSHA’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Construction proposed rule left the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on April 4, which means it could appear in the Federal Register any day. Once the proposal appears, OSHA will allow a comment period and then will evaluate and address any comments before publishing a final rule. The comment review process could take several months to a year (or more), so a final rule likely won’t get published or take effect until 2024.

According to OSHA’s Fall 2022 regulatory agenda, the rule would “clarify the requirements for the fit of personal protective equipment in construction.” If PPE does not fit, it may not provide sufficient protection, and employees who find it uncomfortable might refuse to wear it.