Protection from Hazards    is accomplished by
  1. Engineering controls
    • General ventilation, hoods, self-closing vehicle restraints...-- engineering controls are preferred over other controls because they are in general far less prone to human error.
  1. Administrative controls
    • Rules, policies, emergency plans... -- these are necessary where engineering controls are not possible or practical
  1. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety equipment.
What has happened is that OSHA tried to make employers responsible for buying, but has not succeeded yet.  Ongoing argument.  At this point it can be required that the employee provide the PPE at the employees expense.
  • Safety equipment, including PPE, is something of a subclass of administrative controls since it depends on human cooperation with rules and policies regarding its use.

Interpretation letter from OSHA, 1993, regarding who pays for required protective footwear

Interpretation letter from OSHA 2004, regarding who pays for required PPE in general.

 

PPE is not an acceptable substitute for engineering controls and administrative controls.  For example, it is not permissible for an employer to routinely allow employees wearing respirators to work in an area filled with toxic vapors.  It is required that the employer implement controls (engineering and/or administrative) which prevent the workplace from routinely being filled with toxic vapors.

 

Gloves
  

Hoods
   

Showers &
Eyewashes

 

Disposable PPE links          Skin Protection Info from CDC

 

Contact swihart@purdue.edu if you have questions. 
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 http://www.chem.purdue.edu/safety | send comments to: swihart@purdue.edu | last review/update February 28, 2012