OSHA's PPE standards require employers to assess hazards, select appropriate protective equipment, and provide it at no cost to employees. PPE is always the last line of defense — not the first.

Employer Responsibility

• OSHA 1910.132 — Employers must provide and pay for all required PPE, including electrical PPE
• Employers must assess workplace hazards and document PPE selection in writing
• Employees must be trained on proper use, care, and limitations of each PPE item

Hierarchy of Controls

• 1st — Elimination: remove the hazard entirely
• 2nd — Substitution: replace with a less hazardous option
• 3rd — Engineering controls: guards, insulation, isolation
• 4th — Administrative controls: safe work practices, scheduling
• 5th — PPE: last resort when higher-level controls can't fully eliminate the hazard

Rubber Insulating Gloves (OSHA 1910.137)

• Air-test before every use — inflate and squeeze to check for pinholes or tears
• Electrically tested on a set schedule (typically every 6 months per ASTM F496)
• Classes: 00 = 500V max, 0 = 1 kV, 1 = 7.5 kV, 2 = 17 kV, 3 = 26.5 kV, 4 = 36 kV
• Never use gloves with cuts, ozone cracking, or an expired test date

Eye & Face Protection

• Required any time arc flash, flying debris, or molten metal is possible
• Arc flash face shields must be rated in cal/cm² — match to NFPA 70E PPE category
• Safety glasses alone are not adequate for arc flash work
• Governed by OSHA 1910.133

Footwear

• EH (Electrical Hazard) rated footwear required around energized equipment
• EH boots provide a secondary protection layer against step and touch potential
• Boots with exposed metal soles or conductive materials are prohibited near live conductors
• Governed by OSHA 1910.136 and ASTM F2413

Key References

• OSHA 1910.132 — General PPE requirements
• OSHA 1910.133 — Eye and face protection
• OSHA 1910.136 — Foot protection
• OSHA 1910.137 — Electrical protective equipment (insulating gloves)