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If you employ workers in the electrical industry, safety training is necessary to meet the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. Part of running a safe job site involves providing personal protection equipment (PPE) for your employees. Determine whether your business is operating safely with these four OSHA requirements involving PPE.

4 OSHA Requirements for Employee Protective Gear

1. Employers Pay for PPE

As part of safe job site protocols, OSHA requires employers to pay for and supply PPE to workers in hazardous fields. While the rule doesn’t stipulate specific items that must be provided for each industry, the employer cannot require the worker to perform their duties without equipment that complies with OSHA standards.

2. PPE Safety Training Is Required

safety trainingSimply equipping your employees with the right PPE isn’t enough—you also need to provide safety training for the proper use of each item. Educate your employees on the different job sites and situations they will be required to wear PPE, and how they can replace their items if they become damaged. Individuals working in the electrical field have numerous jobs, from home services to power line repairs. When working with smaller, home power sources, they’ll need the typical PPE, whereas a site that involves power lines will require fall protection equipment.

3. Types of PPE Used in the Electrical Industry

For workers in the electrical field, several standard items should be worn, including safety goggles or face shields, gloves insulated with rubber, hard hats, safety shoes, insulated sleeves, and flame-resistant clothing. Specialized PPE will also be required for job-related risks, such as fall protection equipment or cut-resistant materials when using tree trimmers or saws.

4. Inspect & Test Equipment

Before distributing PPE to workers, employers are required to assess the safety and effectiveness of the equipment. For example, rubber insulated gloves protect the hands when working with live wires or electrical boxes. These gloves will have a classification for the amount of voltage they protect against. Get the right classification of gloves for your electrical workers, and inspect them for any damage like holes or tears. 

 

If you run an electrical business and need help to ensure you’re meeting OSHA’s safety standards, trust the professionals at iOn Reliability Training & Consulting in Honolulu, HI. The consultants on staff offer several programs to help you build a hazard-free workplace, from safety training to risk and liability assessment. Keep your business up to date with the evolving workplace requirements by visiting the consultants online or calling (808) 312-9924.

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