IHSA Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Selection & Use 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Where does Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) fall within the hierarchy of controls?
- First line of defense — use before all other controls
- Last resort — used only when other controls are not feasible or sufficient (Correct answer)
- Equivalent in priority to engineering controls
- Required only when administrative controls are absent
Correct answer: Last resort — used only when other controls are not feasible or sufficient
PPE is the last line of defense in the hierarchy of controls, used only after elimination, substitution, engineering, and administrative controls have been implemented or deemed insufficient.
Question 2: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132, who is required to conduct a workplace hazard assessment to determine what PPE is necessary?
- The employee who will wear the PPE
- The employer (Correct answer)
- A third-party safety consultant
- OSHA compliance officer
Correct answer: The employer
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 requires the employer to conduct and certify a hazard assessment to determine what PPE is necessary to protect employees.
Question 3: According to ANSI/ISEA Z89.1, which hard hat class provides protection against high-voltage electrical conductors?
- Class C (Conductive)
- Class G (General)
- Class E (Electrical) (Correct answer)
- Class S (Special)
Correct answer: Class E (Electrical)
Class E (Electrical) hard hats are tested to protect against up to 20,000 volts, making them appropriate for work near high-voltage electrical conductors.
Question 4: ASTM F2413 governs safety footwear. What does a rating of 'EH' stamped on a boot indicate?
- Extra-heavy duty sole construction
- Electrical hazard protection — insulates against open circuits (Correct answer)
- Enhanced heel cushioning for ergonomic use
- Environmental hazard resistance for chemical splash
Correct answer: Electrical hazard protection — insulates against open circuits
An 'EH' stamp indicates the boot meets ASTM F2413 electrical hazard requirements, providing secondary protection by insulating the wearer from open electrical circuits up to 18,000 volts under dry conditions.
Question 5: OSHA requires quantitative or qualitative fit testing for tight-fitting respirators. How often must fit testing be repeated for workers who continue to use the same respirator model?
- Every 6 months
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 2 years
- Only at initial assignment
Correct answer: Annually
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 requires respirator fit testing annually, and whenever the employee reports or the employer observes changes in physical condition that could affect respirator fit.
Question 6: Which ANSI standard governs the selection, use, and care of eye and face protection in the workplace?
- ANSI Z41
- ANSI Z87.1 (Correct answer)
- ANSI Z89.1
- ANSI Z359.1
Correct answer: ANSI Z87.1
ANSI Z87.1 (Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices) establishes the performance criteria and marking requirements for eye and face protective equipment.
Question 7: When inspecting a safety harness before each use, a certified coach should train workers to remove it from service if they observe which of the following?
- Minor surface discoloration from UV exposure after 6 months of storage
- Cuts, fraying, broken stitching, or deformation of metal hardware (Correct answer)
- A manufacturing date older than 2 years even without visible damage
- Any dirt or debris that has not been cleaned off the webbing
Correct answer: Cuts, fraying, broken stitching, or deformation of metal hardware
Cuts, fraying, broken or burned stitching, and deformed or corroded hardware are definitive defects that compromise harness integrity and require immediate removal from service.
IHSA Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Selection & Use 1
Where does Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) fall within the hierarchy of controls?