Section 296-304-090. Personal protective equipment (PPE)—General requirements.

The employer must provide and ensure that each affected employee uses the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the eyes, face, head, extremities, torso, and respiratory system, including protective clothing, protective shields, hearing protection, protective barriers, personal fall protection equipment, and life saving equipment, wherever the employee is exposed to hazards that require the use of PPE. The employer must furnish the personal protective equipment at no cost to employees if:

•	The intended purpose is to protect against hazardous materials (the PPE may be contaminated by hazardous materials in the course of employment); or
•	The PPE is of such a nature that it would not reasonably be worn outside the worksite.

The provision of personal protective equipment which may reasonably be worn outside of the workplace is subject to labor-management negotiations, but the employer must ensure that exposed employees are wearing the appropriate PPE.

Examples of PPE that must be provided at no cost to employees include but are not limited to:

•	Boots worn to protect against chemicals;
•	Nonprescription protective eye wear;
•	Goggles to fit over prescription eye wear;
•	Metatarsal protection;
•	Full body harnesses and lanyards.

Examples of PPE that provision is subject to labor-management negotiation include but are not limited to:

•	Leather boots with or without steel toes;
•	Coats to protect against inclement weather;
•	Prescription protective eye wear (except as part of a full facepiece or hooded respirator).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 98-02-006, § 296-304-090, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98; Order 74-25, § 296-304-090, filed 5/7/74.]

RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 98-02-006, § 296-304-090, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98; Order 74-25, § 296-304-090, filed 5/7/74.