Two big factors in the personal protection equipment sector's evolution are women and smart technology. PPE manufacturers are better designing equipment for women. And as smart gear and connected devices become more mainstream on construction sites, the PPE market is taking the construction sector along as it advances. But the construction industry can do more, say safety organizations. They've asked OSHA to update longstanding PPE standards.
The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) is among eight national safety organizations that petitioned OSHA to update the standards.
ISEA noted that many of OSHA's PPE regulations reference consensus standards dating back decades, some as far back as 1989. Yet "significant advancements in safety science, materials and testing methods" have been adopted by the industry.
"Updating these references will help ensure workers benefit from the latest innovations in PPE while maintaining flexibility for employers," said the groups.
They want OSHA to update regulatory references for standards specific to eye and face protection, occupational head protection, and workplace first aid kits.
"Together, these standards affect more than 125 million Americans who rely on PPE and emergency safety equipment every day to stay safe on the job," they said.
Updated standards cover enhanced impact testing, clearer product markings, expanded protection from biological hazards and updated first aid guidance. These updates reflect today's workplace risks, believe the eight safety organizations.
"Safety regulations should reflect the best knowledge and protective practices available today," said Cam Mackey, ISEA president and CEO.
Updating these references is a straightforward step OSHA can take to ensure its regulations keep pace with innovation, he said.
They'll allow the agency to also "support the safety science and practices already widely used across industry," he added.
The group announcement said the petition stresses that updating incorporated references to current consensus will enhance worker protection. It also will align OSHA regulations with industry best practices and impose no additional regulatory costs. In fact, the updates would simply replace outdated references with the most recent editions of widely used consensus standards.
These standards already guide the design, testing and performance of protective equipment used across U.S. workplaces, said the organizations.
Besides the ISEA, those organizations supporting the petition:
• American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN)
• ABSA International Association for Biosecurity and Biosecurity
• American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
• Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)
• Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)
• National Safety Council (NSC)
• The Vision Council
ASSP said its participation reflects a longstanding support for voluntary consensus standards and the role they play in advancing worker protection.
"The society has long emphasized the importance of aligning workplace safety regulations with current consensus standards," said the organization.
These standards "reflect the collective expertise of safety professionals across industry, government, labor and academia."
The standards ensure workplace safety guidance reflects current knowledge, emerging risks and evolving technology, added ASSA.
"OSHA has long recognized the value of voluntary consensus standards as an important tool for supporting effective and practical workplace safety protections."
ASSP values partnership with OSHA and supports collaborative efforts to ensure workplace safety rules reflect current knowledge and best practices, it added.
Scaling Safety Gear to Fit Worker
Safety science and technology are evolving to meet the growing number of female workers in the construction workplace.
In fact, today women make up almost 48 percent of the workforce. Adequate PPE is a must to ensure their safety on the job, said Wyatt Bradbury of Avetta.
Principal, health and safety, of the regulatory compliance consultant, he said the sector has advanced from "shrink it and pink it" to women-specific gear.
In an article for Ohsline.com, Bradbury pointed to high-visibility garments; footwear; and hearing, head, hand and eye protection as evidence of the evolution.
This gear designed for the unique needs of women, he said, is available from a variety of distributors.
The 2023 Guidance of PPE for Women ANSI and ASSP was a key contributor to the improvements, said Bradbury.
"However, despite the availability of these products, the problems women face regarding PPE in the workplace persist."
Safety officer Mike Harry said industries with strict smart PPE protocols have seen injury reductions of 30 percent to 70 percent. These numbers demonstrate the real-world value of these innovations, he said, but widespread adoption of smart PPE still faces hurdles.
Common challenges include cost barriers. Smart equipment is more expensive upfront than traditional PPE, said Harry in an ohsonline.com article.
Worker discomfort is another issue with smart technology, he added. Sensors and electronics can feel bulky or restrictive, especially to women.
Training gaps can happen.
"Workers need guidance on how to properly use and maintain the technology," he said.
Finally, employees can have data privacy concerns. Harry noted that with continuous monitoring, companies must manage sensitive worker data responsibly.
"To overcome these issues, organizations are increasingly adopting pilot programs to test smart PPE in small groups before scaling," he said. "Coupling technology with robust worker education helps maximize safety without overwhelming employees."
Bradford said it took his seeing an employee wearing ill-fitting equipment to engage the safety committee, multiple vendors and distributors to drive change.
"Unfortunately, it seems that many employers are waiting for a similar hands-on experience to finally make a change," he said.
Addressing Needs of Everyone
He outlines six steps for employers willing to wake up to the PPE needs of all their workers, especially female employees, starting with identifying the problem.
To understand the state of available PPE in the workplace, he said, talk to the women who are using PPE daily.
"Ask if it fits, meets their needs or if there is anything that can be done to make it easier to work safely while using PPE," said Bradbury. "Find out if there are specific instances when adjustments are always needed, if it seems to become an inconvenience or ultimately fails."
The employees wearing PPE will know what works and what doesn't, he added. Contractors also might observe how people are working in PPE.
"Often, if the PPE doesn't look like it fits, is constantly being adjusted or does not seem to be functioning properly, it probably isn't," said Bradbury.
Studying various situations and tasks offers the observer an idea of where PPE may be missing, not identified or not being used.
It becomes an opportunity to really explore why. "Here, fit [or lack thereof] may be a factor," said Bradbury.
Contractors also should look through records such as fit testing, to see where issues have arisen in the past.
"Look at workers' compensation claims and injury reports to see where improperly fitting PPE may have contributed to injury or illness," he said. "Use the lagging data to determine where issues exist and where to be proactive to address hazards that PPE has been less effective at controlling."
The issue may be the PPE itself. The contractor should work with those employees to help obtain equipment that better suits their needs and body structure.
"Remember that PPE is ultimately about your workers' protection; ensure it suits them," Bradbury added.
Step two, he said, is to engage as many interested employees who have relevant input as possible in discussion about the issue.
"Don't isolate it to just female employees or a specific subset of your worker population."
Create a list of challenges or must-haves and required changes, even beyond just fit. "Use this as a chance to drive utility, efficiency and comfort," he said.
Step three, include vendors, distributors and manufacturers in the conversation.
Have providers talk with procurement teams, operational leaders risk management, health and safety committees and front-line workers.
Bradbury suggests learning about new products on the market and how to obtain samples to distribute for feedback and testing among the female workforce.
"Use them as a force multiplier to solve as many challenges as you have related to PPE."
Try out samples in real-world scenarios, stress test and collect expanded feedback as step four in the process.
"This can help identify other areas of opportunity to improve your safety and health systems," said Bradbury.
Contractors should feedback on as many products from as many female employees as are available.
"The more time spent testing, the higher the likelihood of challenges being proactively identified and solutions being implemented," he added.
Step five, encourage employees to own the decision and know it represents the feedback they've shared.
"Once the decision is made, implement the new approach that recognizes the unique PPE considerations of women in the workplace," said Bradbury.
Finally, don't stop here, he said. Contractors should keep looking for opportunities to continually improve and use what they've learned.
"Apply it to make health and safety protection enhancements for all employees throughout your organization."
In the construction industry PPE gear, especially for women, has improved significantly in recent years. But availability alone isn't the best solution.
"As the last line of defense against workplace hazards, PPE must fit the people who rely on it," said Bradbury. "That means employers need to actively evaluate programs, listen to workers, and commit to solutions that truly meet everyone's needs." CEG
