Evolving Rules for Evolving Job Sites
OSHA’s new construction PPE rule reflects a changing workforce.
- By David Kopf
- May 30, 2025
Step onto any construction site in America today, and one thing is immediately clear: today’s construction crews reflect a broad cross-section of society. But no matter their background, experience, or body type, every worker on a construction site shares one critical need: personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE is the great equalizer in construction safety, but for PPE to protect workers as intended, it must do more than be present. It must fit.
Why is fit so crucial? Because PPE that doesn’t fit properly can fail in the very moment it’s needed most. A harness that slides out of position might not arrest a fall. Loose gloves can catch in machinery. Oversized goggles can allow debris to enter the eye. Poorly fitting gear is not just uncomfortable—it’s a risk multiplier. It impedes movement, reduces dexterity, limits visibility, and can even discourage workers from wearing it altogether. In essence, PPE that fits poorly can provide a false sense of security, lulling workers and supervisors into thinking they’re protected when they are not.
So, it’s no surprise the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published fast-tracked its Personal Protective Equipment in Construction: Fit Requirements Final Rule, which went into effect on Jan. 13. It updates OSHA’s construction standards (29 CFR 1926.95) to explicitly require that PPE must “properly fit each affected employee.” The rule explicitly states that employers must ensure all required PPE provided to construction workers “properly fits each affected employee.”
Why Fit Matters More Than Ever
Construction is a high-risk profession, consistently ranking among the most dangerous industries in terms of injuries and fatalities. Ill-fitting PPE compounds those risks. A hard hat that slides off easily, gloves too large to grip tools securely, a harness that rides too high or too loose—these are not minor inconveniences. They are hazards.
And they are hazards disproportionately faced by certain segments of the workforce. Women, for example, often find themselves forced to wear gear designed for larger male frames. Also, smaller-statured workers, whether male or female, may have difficulty getting protective equipment that matches their proportions. When the gear doesn’t fit, safety is compromised.
From Implicit to Explicit: OSHA Clarifies Employer Responsibilities
OSHA’s construction industry standards have long required that employers provide PPE to protect workers from job-specific hazards. However, until now, the language around fit was ambiguous. The general industry standard (29 CFR 1910.132) included clearer expectations regarding proper fit, but the construction standard (29 CFR 1926) lacked comparable specificity.
That changed with this final rule. Published in the Federal Register on Dec. 12, 2024, the final rule modifies existing construction PPE standards to align more closely with the general industry requirements. Specifically, it updates 29 CFR 1926.95 to state unequivocally that PPE must “properly fit each affected employee.”
What This Means for Safety Managers
For safety managers and site supervisors, this change represents more than a legal update—it’s a call to action. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Fit is no longer optional. The most significant shift is in accountability. Where previously PPE fit may have been handled informally or reactively, it is now a regulatory requirement. Employers can be cited for failing to provide PPE that fits properly.
2. Applies to all PPE categories. The rule applies to all forms of PPE required under construction standards, including:
- Fall protection equipment
Fit issues in any of these categories can now be the basis for citations during OSHA inspections.
3. One-size-fits-all won’t cut it. Employers must move beyond a default gear list. A one-size-fits-all approach is no longer compliant or defensible. This may require sourcing PPE from multiple vendors, exploring expanded product lines, or even advocating for manufacturers to offer more size-inclusive options.
4. Training and awareness are essential. Supervisors and safety leads should be trained to recognize signs of poor fit and empowered to address them proactively. Likewise, workers must feel safe to report PPE that doesn’t fit without fear of reprisal or ridicule.
5. Fit is part of the hazard assessment process. OSHA requires hazard assessments to determine necessary PPE. With this rule, fit should be considered part of that assessment. What good is identifying the right category of protection if the selected equipment won’t perform as intended due to poor fit?
Employee-Supplied PPE
The rule also reinforces that employers are responsible for verifying the adequacy and fit of any PPE brought to the job site by employees themselves. If a worker supplies their own hard hat, gloves, harness, or other protective equipment, it may only be used if it meets OSHA standards and properly fits the individual. This ensures that all gear worn on the job—regardless of its source—offers the intended level of protection.
For safety managers, this means implementing a protocol to inspect and approve personally owned PPE before allowing it in the field. It also underscores the importance of ongoing communication with workers about what qualifies as compliant, properly fitting protection. Even if employees feel more comfortable in gear they already own, employers remain liable for ensuring that comfort does not come at the cost of safety.
Enforcement and Inspection
OSHA inspectors will now evaluate PPE fit as part of routine job site visits. If a worker is wearing PPE that obviously doesn’t fit—gloves that sag at the fingers, safety goggles that don’t seal against the face, or harnesses that hang loose—employers may be cited.
To avoid violations, employers should:
- Conduct regular PPE fit assessments
- Document the sizing and fit process for each employee
- Keep records of employee feedback and adjustments
- Work with suppliers who offer a range of sizes and styles
Looking Ahead
OSHA’s rule does not impose new categories of PPE, but it does raise the bar for how existing gear is evaluated and deployed. Also, it challenges companies to take a more thoughtful, worker-centered approach to safety.
Some forward-thinking employers are already partnering with vendors that specialize in PPE designed for diverse body types. In fact, there are multiple PPE vendors who have gotten out ahead of the trend to expand their product lines to offer more inclusive sizing and ergonomically tailored designs. For example, leading suppliers now produce gloves in a wider range of sizes, hard hats with adjustable suspension systems, pants and shirts that better conform to the shoulders and hips of various workers, and fall protection harnesses designed specifically for women or smaller-statured workers.
While the rule doesn’t mandate new designs from manufacturers, it has created market pressure to innovate—driven by both compliance needs and a genuine shift toward worker-centric safety engineering.
The Up-Shot
Ultimately, the new rule is about more than gear. It’s about making sure that every person on every job site—regardless of gender, size, age, or background—has what they need to go home safe at the end of the day.
The construction workforce is evolving. So too must the standards that protect it. OSHA’s final PPE fit rule reflects a growing recognition that safety must be personalized to be effective. It’s not enough to simply provide PPE. It must work. And for it to work, it must fit.