This written Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Program is a means to analyze elevated work tasks and determine appropriate personal protection against know or potential workplace hazards in accordance with regulations set by Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSHA) and U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

OSHA requires that employers attept to control know and potential hazards through adminsitrative controls, engineering controls, and best industry work practices before relying on PPE. PPE is the last line of defense against workplace hazards. When PPE is required, OSHA regulations stipulate how it is selected, provided, maintained, and used. Both OSHA’s General Industry (29 CFR 1910) and Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926) PPE standards may simultaneously apply to the same work site and job tasks.

OSHA standards that govern General Industry safety regulations apply to most work sites and refer to all industries not included in agriculture, construction or maritime. Examples include laboratory settings, routine operations and maintenance activities, small scale tasks such as HVAC or other minor equipment repair.

Construction Industry standards apply to construction work meaning “work for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating”.

In addition to the roles and responsibilities described in UVM’s Policy for Workplace Health & Safety, the following apply specifically to the use of PPE:

• Failure/refusal to wear required PPE is a basis for disciplinary action.
• UVM Personnel not wearing required PPE may not participate in occupational, academic or research activities until such PPE is worn.
• Employees may be liable for costs associated with injuries that would have been prevented by proper use of PPE when they have willfully not used that PPE.