PPE Hazard Assessment
Written hazard assessment, PPE selection by task and body region, certification requirements, and trade-specific coverage.
What this document is
This document is a completed written hazard assessment that identifies workplace hazards requiring personal protective equipment. It selects appropriate PPE by task and body region and includes the employer's certification that the assessment has been performed.
The regulation that requires it
29 CFR 1910.132(d) and 29 CFR 1926.95 require employers to assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present or are likely to be present which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment. The standard states that the employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated, the name of the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, and the date(s) of the hazard assessment. In California this requirement is enforced under Title 8 CCR Section 3383 which adopts and supplements the federal rules.
Who needs it
General industry employers and construction contractors who expose workers to hazards that can be mitigated by PPE must complete and maintain this assessment. It applies to trades including electrical, plumbing, welding, framing, roofing, concrete work, and excavation. California contractors face Cal/OSHA enforcement of these requirements under Title 8 regulations that mirror and expand on the federal standards.
What happens without it
OSHA and Cal/OSHA cite employers for failure to perform and certify the required hazard assessment. Serious violations typically carry penalties in the range of several thousand dollars while willful or repeated violations can reach tens of thousands per citation. Inspection risk increases on multi-employer worksites where the controlling contractor may also receive citations for inadequate PPE programs.
What's included in the generated document
- Workplace hazard assessment checklist by work area and task
- PPE selection table organized by body region
- Certification statement with employer signature block
- Trade-specific hazard examples for common construction activities
- References to 29 CFR 1910.132 and 29 CFR 1926.95
How to implement it at your company
- Review the completed assessment and verify that listed tasks and hazards match your current job sites.
- Have a competent person walk each work area to confirm the selected PPE remains appropriate.
- Obtain the signature of the certifying employer representative and enter the date.
- Distribute copies to supervisors and make the document available at every job site.
- Update the assessment whenever new equipment, processes, or hazards are introduced.