Work out what PPE this job actually needs, and what it'll cost.
For sole proprietors and small firms pricing up a job properly. Covers the PPE list by trade and task, not a generic hi-vis checklist.
If you take an action based on what you read here, that action is yours. We are a guide, not an advisor, and we give this away for free.
We're not a licensed insurance producer or financial adviser. This explains what the cover types do, not which policy to buy. Insurance is regulated state by state, so check that whoever is selling to you is licensed with your own state's insurance department before you sign anything.
What the law actually says
- •OSHA requires employers to provide the personal protective equipment their workers need at no cost to the employee (29 CFR 1910.132(h), and 29 CFR 1926.95(d) for construction).
- •A narrow set of items is exempt from the employer-pays rule, mainly non-specialty safety-toe footwear and prescription safety eyewear that the worker is allowed to wear off the job.
- •If you're self-employed with no employees, your PPE is a deductible business expense on your Schedule C.