Question: Does my employer have to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and who pays for it?

Answer: Many OSHA standards require employers to provide personal protective equipment, when it is necessary to protect employees from job-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. With few exceptions, OSHA requires employers to pay for personal protective equipment when it is used to comply with OSHA standards. These typically include: hard hats, gloves, goggles, safety glasses, welding helmets and goggles, face shields, chemical protective equipment and fall protection equipment. For additional information on PPE, refer to OSHA's Personal Protective Equipment Web page.