The use of personal protective equipment is often necessary to supplement other control measures. In some circumstances, personal protective equipment is used as the primary means to protect employees. Employers are in the best position to provide the correct type of protective equipment and keep it in repair. Employers are required to perform a hazard assessment of the workplace and to select the correct type of personal protective equipment to protect employees from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment. Employees may not always have the expertise to select the correct type of personal protective equipment, especially in situations where the use of personal protective equipment, such as fall protection equipment and respirators, may be complicated.
Employers are in the best position to keep the personal protective equipment in repair.
They are required by the personal protective equipment standard to maintain personal protective equipment in a sanitary and reliable condition. Thus, the employers can maintain better control over the inventory of personal protective equipment by periodically inspecting the equipment and repairing or replacing it, due to damage or wear and tear. Requiring employees to pay for personal protective equipment may discourage their use of personal protective equipment. Employees may be discouraged from using necessary personal protective equipment if they are responsible for paying for the personal protective equipment and must find and buy the appropriate type of personal protective equipment on their own unpaid time. Some states and existing standards already require employers to pay for personal protective equipment.