Subpart I provides the standards for eye and face protection, respiratory protection, head protection, foot protection, hand and body protection, lifesaving equipment, personal fall arrest systems, and positioning devices. 

To learn if Subpart I applies to you, go to Does "Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment" Apply to You?

Special Requirements

Tab/Accordion Items

Scope: This standard provides the general requirements for pertaining to PPE. 

Special Requirements: Affected employee, PPE, hazard assessment, assess, determine, document, information, communicate, name, verify, training, demonstrate, retrain, references other standards

1915.152(a) - Provision and use of equipment. The employer shall provide and shall ensure that each affected employee uses the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the eyes, face, head, extremities, torso, and respiratory system, including protective clothing, protective shields, protective barriers, personal fall protection equipment, and life saving equipment, meeting the applicable provisions of this subpart, wherever employees are exposed to work activity hazards that require the use of PPE.

1915.152(b) - Hazard assessment and equipment. The employer shall assess its work activity to determine whether there are hazards present, or likely to be present, which necessitate the employee's use of PPE. If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:

  • 1915.152(b)(1) - Select the type of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the occupational hazard assessment;
  • 1915.152(b)(2) - Communicate selection decisions to affected employees;
  • 1915.152(b)(3) - Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee; and
  • 1915.152(b)(4) - Verify that the required occupational hazard assessment has been performed through a document that contains the following information: occupation, the date(s) of the hazard assessment, and the name of the person performing the hazard assessment.

1915.152(e) - Training 

  • 1915.152(e)(1) - The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required, by this section, to use PPE (exception: training in the use of personal fall arrest systems and positioning device systems training is covered in §§ 1915.159 - personal fall arrest systems and 1915.160 - positioning device systems). Each employee shall be trained to understand at least the following: [Reference paragraph (e)(1)(i) - (v)].
  • 1915.152(e)(2) - The employer shall ensure that each affected employee demonstrates the ability to use PPE properly before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE.
  • 1915.152(e)(3) - The employer shall retrain any employee who does not understand or display the skills required by paragraph (e)(2) of this section. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where:  [Reference paragraph (e)(3)(i) - (iii)].
1915.152(f) - Payment for protective equipment.  [Reference paragraph (f)(1) - (7)].

Scope: This standard provides the requirements for eye and face protection.

Special Requirements: Affected employee, eye and face protection, demonstrates, references other standards

1915.153(a)(1) - The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection where there are exposures to eye or face hazards caused by flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acid or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.
 
1915.153(a)(2) - The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses eye or face protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Detachable side protectors (e.g., a clip-on or slide-on side shield) meeting the pertinent requirements of this section are acceptable.
 
1915.153(a)(3) - The employer shall ensure that each affected employee who wears prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, unless the employee is protected by eye protection that can be worn over prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of either the PPE or the prescription lenses.
 
1915.153(a)(4) - The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses equipment with filter lenses that have a shade number that provides appropriate protection from injurious light radiation. Table I–1 is a listing of appropriate shade numbers for various operations. If filter lenses are used in goggles worn under a helmet which has a lens, the shade number of the lens in the helmet may be reduced so that the shade numbers of the two lenses will equal the value as shown in Table I–1, §1915.153.
 
1915.153(b)(1) - Protective eye and face protection devices must comply with any of the following consensus standards: [Reference paragraph (b)(1)(i) - (iii)].
 
1915.153(b)(2) - Eye and face protection devices that the employer demonstrates are at least as effective as protective as eye and face protection devices that are constructed in accordance with one of the above consensus standards will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.

Scope: This standard provides the requirements for respiratory protection. 

Special Requirements: Respiratory protection, references other standards

Respiratory protection for shipyard employment is covered by 29 CFR 1910.134. Refer to 29 CFR 1910.134 - respiratory protection for special requirements.

Scope: This standard provides the requirements for head protection.

Special Requirements: Affected employee, head protection, demonstrates, references other standards

1915.155(a)(1) - The employer shall ensure that each affected employee wears a protective helmet when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects.

1915.155(a)(2) - The employer shall ensure that each affected employee wears a protective helmet designed to reduce electrical shock hazards where there is potential for electric shock or burns due to contact with exposed electrical conductors which could contact the head.

1915.155(b)(1) - Head protection must comply with any of the following consensus standards: [References paragraph (b)(1)(i) - (iii)].

1915.155(b)(2) - Head protection devices that the employer demonstrates are at least as effective as head protection devices that are constructed in accordance with one of the above consensus standards will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.

Scope: This standard provides the requirements 

Special Requirements: Affected employee, foot protection, demonstrates, reference other standards

1915.156(a) - Use. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee wears protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects or objects piercing the sole.

1915.156(b)(1) - Protective footwear must comply with any of the following consensus standards: [Reference paragraph (b)(1)(i) - (iii)].

1915.156(b)(2) - Protective footwear that the employer demonstrates is at least as effective as protective footwear that is constructed in accordance with one of the above consensus standards will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.

Scope: This standard provides the requirements for hand and body protection. 

Special Requirements: Hand and body protection, affected employee, gloves and sleeves 

1915.157(a) - Use. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate hand protection and other protective clothing where there is exposure to hazards such as skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns, harmful temperature extremes, and sharp objects.

1915.157(c) - Electrical protective devices. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee wears protective electrical insulating gloves and sleeves or other electrical protective equipment, if that employee is exposed to electrical shock hazards while working on electrical equipment.

Scope: This standard provides the requirements 

Special Requirements: Life jackets, personal flotation devices, affected employees, marked, approved, inspected, specifications, ring life buoy, references other standards

1915.158(a)(1) - PFDs (life preservers, life jackets, or work vests) worn by each affected employee must be United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved pursuant to 46 CFR part 160 (Type I, II, III, or V PFD) and marked for use as a work vest, for commercial use, or for use on vessels. USCG approval is pursuant to 46 CFR part 160, Coast Guard Lifesaving Equipment Specifications.

1915.158(a)(2) - Prior to each use, personal floatation devices shall be inspected for dry rot, chemical damage, or other defects which may affect their strength and buoyancy. Defective personal floatation devices shall not be used.

1915.158(b)(1) - When work is being performed on a floating vessel 200 feet (61 m) or more in length, at least three 30-inch (0.76 m) U.S. Coast Guard approved ring life buoys with lines attached shall be located in readily visible and accessible places. Ring life buoys shall be located one forward, one aft, and one at the access to the gangway.

1915.158(b)(2) - On floating vessels under 200 feet (61 m) in length, at least one 30-inch (0.76 m) U.S. Coast Guard approved ring life buoy with line attached shall be located at the gangway.

1915.158(b)(3) - At least one 30-inch (0.76 m) U. S. Coast Guard approved ring life buoy with a line attached shall be located on each staging alongside of a floating vessel on which work is being performed.

Scope: This standard provides the requirements personal fall arrest systems. 

Special Requirements: PFAS, designed, qualified person, supervision/direction, inspected, training, tie-off techniques, determines/d, demonstrate, safety factor, rescue

1915.159(a)(5) - Snaphooks shall be sized to be compatible with the member to which they are connected to prevent unintentional disengagement of the snaphook caused by depression of the snaphook keeper by the connected member, or shall be of a locking type that is designed and used to prevent disengagement of the snap-hook by contact of the snaphook keeper by the connected member.

1915.159(a)(8) - Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms.
 
1915.159(a)(9) - Anchorages shall be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.24 Kn) per employee attached, or shall be designed, installed, and used as follows:
  • 1915.159(a)(9)(i) - As part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two; and
  • 1915.159(a)(9)(ii) - Under the direction and supervision of a qualified person.
1915.159(b)(5) - Horizontal lifelines shall be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person, and shall only be used as part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least two.
 
1915.159(b)(7) - Personal fall arrest systems shall be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.83 m) nor contact any lower level.
 
1915.159(c)(5) - Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for mildew, wear, damage, and other deterioration. Defective components shall be removed from service.
 
1915.159(c)(6) - Personal fall arrest systems and components subjected to impact loading shall be immediately removed from service and shall not be used again for employee protection until inspected and determined by a qualified person to be undamaged and suitable for reuse.
 
1915.159(c)(7) - The employer shall provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or shall ensure that employees are able to rescue themselves.
 
1915.159(c)(9) - Personal fall arrest systems and components shall be used only for employee fall protection and not to hoist materials.
 
1915.159(d) - Training. Before using personal fall arrest equipment, each affected employee shall be trained to understand the application limits of the equipment and proper hook-up, anchoring, and tie-off techniques. Affected employees shall also be trained so that they can demonstrate the proper use, inspection, and storage of their equipment.

Scope: This standard provides the requirements for positioning devices systems

Special Requirements: Positioning device system, drop test, inspected, qualified person, determined, train, tie-off techniques, methods of use

1915.160(b)(2)(i) - A window cleaner's positioning system shall be capable of withstanding without failure a drop test consisting of a 6 foot (1.83 m) drop of a 250-pound (113.4 kg) weight. The system shall limit the initial arresting force to not more than 2,000 pounds (8.9 Kn), with a duration not to exceed 2 milliseconds. The system shall limit any subsequent arresting forces imposed on the falling employee to not more than 1,000 pounds (4.45 Kn);

1915.160(b)(2)(ii) - All other positioning device systems shall be capable of withstanding without failure a drop test consisting of a 4 foot (1.22 m) drop of a 250-pound (113.4 kg) weight.

1915.160(c)(1) - Positioning device systems shall be inspected before each use for mildew, wear, damage, and other deterioration. Defective components shall be removed from service.

1915.160(c)(2) - A positioning device system or component subjected to impact loading shall be immediately removed from service and shall not be used again for employee protection, unless inspected and determined by a qualified person to be undamaged and suitable for reuse.

1915.160(d) -Training. Before using a positioning device system, employees shall be trained in the application limits, proper hook-up, anchoring and tie-off techniques, methods of use, inspection, and storage of positioning device systems.

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