Tumwater, WA — Washington state has adopted a permanent rule that allows the voluntary use of personal protective equipment.
Set to go into effect Oct. 1, CR-103 revises current Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Division of Occupational Safety and Health standards to permit workers who feel the need to protect themselves from noise, dust or potentially infectious/contagious diseases to use PPE when it isn’t otherwise required on the job.
“The voluntary use of PPE must not introduce hazards to the work environment and any PPE, including facial coverings, must not interfere with an employer’s security requirements,” Washington L&I says.
The rule requires employers to verify that voluntary PPE use meets all regulatory requirements for workplace safety and health, but they won’t have to purchase, store, maintain or provide this PPE.
