The purpose of this rulemaking is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recently revised several of their rules to clarify the fact that personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees, along with training on PPE, is to be provided to each and every employee. The department is proposing to make the same changes to our rules, to remain as effective as OSHA as mandated by statute. These changes will make clear that the employer is to provide the necessary PPE and training to every employee. The changes were adopted 7/21/2009 and became effective on 9/1/2009.545.

The department is required by statute to remain at least as effective as OSHA. Adopting these changes will keep the department in compliance with the law. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recently revised several of their rules to clarify the fact that personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees is to be paid for by the employer. The department is proposing to make the same changes to our rules, to remain as effective as OSHA as mandated by statute. These changes will make clear that the employer is to provide the necessary PPE at no cost to the employee. Also, some additions are being made to the list of examples of PPE we give to employers, to match the list of examples put out by OSHA. The changes were adopted 2/17/2009 and became effective on 4/1/2009.97.