3010 – 05 – Using Standards Development

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OSHA doesn’t always say when a piece of equipment should be worn, but if they do mention a certain type of PPE, then it needs to meet an outside standard. Professional groups in conjunction with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) create these standards. ANSI is an organization that makes the U.S. voluntary standards and conformity assessment system. ANSI gives a way for an industry to make and distribute the specifications for most PPE.
If you are purchasing your own PPE, you should double check with your industry’s standards and make sure what you buy fits the job. Remember, OSHA doesn’t back all ANSI standards. If PPE fails, OSHA may cite you for it. The citation may be for failure to uphold ANSI standards