Who is responsible for requiring the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment?

• A. The employer
• B. The employee
• C. The supervisor
• D. The regulatory agency

Answer: (A)

Employers are responsible for requiring the wearing of appropriate PPE because they create, implement, and enforce the safety program for the site. That includes conducting hazard assessments, selecting the right equipment, providing it to workers, training on proper use, and setting the rules that everyone must follow. The supervisor helps by enforcing those requirements on the job site and monitoring day-to-day compliance under the employer’s program, but the obligation to establish and mandate PPE use comes from the employer. Regulatory agencies set the standards and rules, but they don’t personally require PPE on a specific worksite; they require employers to meet the standards. The employee must wear the PPE when the policy calls for it, but the decision to require it rests with the employer.