Tumwater, WA — Employers in Washington state would be prohibited from barring workers’ voluntary use of personal protective equipment, under a recently proposed rule from the Department of Labor & Industries.
Issued March 22, the proposal comes with some stipulations. Voluntary use of PPE by employees and/or contractors must not introduce hazards into the work environment, can’t interfere with an employer’s security requirements, and must comply with state standards for the specific type of equipment. Also, employers can’t apply for a variance to the rule during a public health emergency.
Washington L&I says any updates on the rulemaking will appear on its website.
