NSC Personal Protective Equipment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When selecting gloves for protection against chemical hazards, what is the most important factor to consider?
- The color and thickness of the glove material
- The chemical compatibility of the glove material with the specific substance (Correct answer)
- The country of manufacture and brand reputation
- Whether the gloves are reusable or disposable
Correct answer: The chemical compatibility of the glove material with the specific substance
Chemical compatibility must be verified because no single glove material protects against all chemicals, and an incompatible glove can degrade rapidly and allow exposure.
Question 2: ANSI/ISEA Z41 (now ASTM F2413) governs which category of personal protective equipment?
- Protective helmets and hard hats
- Safety footwear including toe protection (Correct answer)
- High-visibility safety apparel
- Respiratory protective devices
Correct answer: Safety footwear including toe protection
ASTM F2413 (formerly ANSI Z41) is the standard for performance requirements for protective footwear, including impact and compression resistance ratings.
Question 3: A full-body harness used in a personal fall arrest system must be inspected by a competent person:
- Once per year only, during a scheduled safety audit
- Before each use and after any fall event (Correct answer)
- Every five years or after any fall event, whichever comes first
- Only when the manufacturer recommends replacement
Correct answer: Before each use and after any fall event
OSHA requires fall arrest equipment to be inspected before each use and immediately removed from service after any fall event, as internal damage may not be visible.
Question 4: Which OSHA standard requires that employees who use tight-fitting respirators pass a fit test before using the respirator in the workplace?
- 29 CFR 1910.95 – Occupational Noise Exposure
- 29 CFR 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.138 – Hand Protection
- 29 CFR 1910.132 – General PPE Requirements
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection
29 CFR 1910.134 requires fit testing for all tight-fitting respirators to ensure an adequate seal is achieved, protecting the wearer from airborne hazards.
Question 5: High-visibility safety apparel (HVSA) is classified under ANSI/ISEA 107. Which class is required for workers exposed to high-speed traffic environments such as highway construction zones?
- Class 1 — minimal risk environment
- Class 2 — significant risk with moderate traffic
- Class 3 — highest visibility for high-risk environments (Correct answer)
- Class 0 — reflective vest for low-light only
Correct answer: Class 3 — highest visibility for high-risk environments
ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 provides the greatest amount of high-visibility material and retroreflectivity, required where workers are exposed to high-speed vehicle traffic.
Question 6: What distinguishes a Type I hard hat from a Type II hard hat?
- Type I protects against electrical hazards; Type II does not
- Type I only reduces force on the top of the head; Type II also protects the sides (Correct answer)
- Type I is reusable; Type II is single-use only
- Type I is for indoor use only; Type II is rated for outdoor environments
Correct answer: Type I only reduces force on the top of the head; Type II also protects the sides
Type I hard hats only provide top-of-head impact protection, while Type II hard hats offer additional lateral impact protection to the sides of the head.
Question 7: When using a combination of hearing protectors (earplugs and earmuffs together), how is the effective NRR calculated?
- The two NRR values are added together for a combined total
- The higher NRR device is used alone and the other is ignored
- Add 5 dB to the higher NRR rather than adding both values together (Correct answer)
- Multiply the two NRR values to determine combined protection
Correct answer: Add 5 dB to the higher NRR rather than adding both values together
When dual hearing protection is used, OSHA and NIOSH recommend adding only 5 dB to the higher NRR value, as the skull itself becomes a sound conduction path limiting additional attenuation.
NSC Personal Protective Equipment 2
When selecting gloves for protection against chemical hazards, what is the most important factor to consider?