Construction companies must ensure their personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers actually fits, according to a new rule finalized last month by OSHA.

The rule, which was initially proposed in July 2023 and will be effective Jan. 13, 2025, explicitly requires PPE to properly fit any construction worker who needs it, improving protections from hazardous conditions. The new standard for the construction industry aligns with the standard already in place for general industry.

“I’ve talked to workers in construction, particularly women, who have spoken of personal protective equipment that didn’t fit or was simply unavailable at the job site in their size,” said Doug Parker, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, in a press release announcing the final rule. “PPE must fit properly to work.”

PPE includes many different types of protective equipment, such as hard hats and helmets, gloves, safety shoes, safety glasses and goggles, welding helmets and goggles, hearing protection devices, respirators, coveralls, vests, harnesses and full body suits.

“If PPE does not fit properly, it can make the difference between an employee being safely protected, having inadequate protection, or being dangerously exposed,” the rule states. “In some cases, ill-fitting PPE may not protect an employee at all, and in other cases it may present additional hazards to that employee and to employees who work around them.”

For example, sleeves of protective clothing that are too long or gloves that do not fit properly may make it difficult to use tools or operate equipment, putting the wearer and other workers at risk of exposure to hazards, or may get caught in machinery, resulting in injuries to the wearer such as fractures or amputations, according to the rule.

Similarly, the legs of protective garments that are too long could cause tripping hazards for the worker and could also affect others working near that worker.

Protective clothing that is too small may increase a worker’s exposure to hazards, such as providing insufficient coverage from dangerous machinery or hazardous substances.

“The issue of improperly fitting PPE is particularly important for smaller construction workers, including some women, who may not be able to use currently existing standard-size PPE,” the rule states. “Fit problems can also affect larger workers, and standard-size PPE does not always accommodate varying body shapes.” Indeed, overweight workers can be potentially harmed by ill-fitting safety harnesses, the Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund of North America wrote in its comment letter to OSHA supporting the rule.