You asked if the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requires Connecticut police officers to wear bullet proof vests when they are on duty.

OSHA does not require police officers to wear bullet proof vests (body armor) while on duty. State law does not address this issue either. In practice, police departments have established their own policies. Some, like Glastonbury, Farmington, and the State Police have written policies; others, like Rocky Hill, have informal, unwritten policies.

Based on feedback from some departments, the policies generally address the circumstances in which body armor should be worn; standards that the body armor must meet (e. g. , National Institute of Justice standards); and the department's duty to provide it. To encourage the use of body armor, most departments provide it for free and replace it when it becomes worn or damaged. For example, Rocky Hill provides free body armor and free replacement every five years. Additionally, most police departments require that officers keep body armor immediately accessible or stored in department vehicles.

LM: ro