PTS Protective Equipment (PPE) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum ANSI class rating required for a high-visibility vest worn by track workers in active rail corridors?
- Class 1
- Class 2 (Correct answer)
- Class 3
- Class E
Correct answer: Class 2
ANSI Class 2 high-visibility apparel is the minimum required for workers in active rail corridors due to its greater retroreflective material coverage.
Question 2: Which type of glove material provides the best protection against cuts from sharp rail edges and track spikes?
- Latex rubber gloves
- Cut-resistant Kevlar gloves (Correct answer)
- Standard leather work gloves
- Cotton knit gloves
Correct answer: Cut-resistant Kevlar gloves
Cut-resistant Kevlar gloves are rated for protection against sharp metal edges and are required for handling rail, spikes, and other sharp track components.
Question 3: A track worker's hard hat has a visible crack in the shell. What is the correct action?
- Continue using it if the crack is small
- Tape the crack and continue use
- Remove it from service immediately and replace it (Correct answer)
- Report it to a supervisor but keep using it until replaced
Correct answer: Remove it from service immediately and replace it
Any crack, dent, or deformity in a hard hat shell compromises its structural integrity and requires immediate removal from service.
Question 4: Steel-toed safety boots worn on the track must meet which ASTM standard for impact resistance?
- ASTM F2413 (Correct answer)
- ASTM D1668
- ASTM E1354
- ASTM B117
Correct answer: ASTM F2413
ASTM F2413 is the standard specification for performance requirements for protective (safety) toe cap footwear used in industrial and rail environments.
Question 5: When should track workers wear hearing protection rated at NRR 25 or higher?
- Only during spike driving operations
- Whenever ambient noise exceeds 85 dB(A) over an 8-hour shift (Correct answer)
- Only when using power tools
- Whenever a train passes within 100 feet
Correct answer: Whenever ambient noise exceeds 85 dB(A) over an 8-hour shift
OSHA mandates hearing protection when workers are exposed to 85 dB(A) or more as an 8-hour time-weighted average, regardless of the noise source.
Question 6: What does the term 'PPE hierarchy' mean in a rail safety context?
- PPE ranked by cost from cheapest to most expensive
- PPE used as the last line of defense after engineering and administrative controls (Correct answer)
- The order in which PPE items must be donned
- The ranking of supervisors responsible for PPE inspection
Correct answer: PPE used as the last line of defense after engineering and administrative controls
In the hierarchy of controls, PPE is always the last resort after eliminating hazards, substitution, engineering controls, and administrative controls.
Question 7: A worker is issued a respirator for ballast dust containing silica. Who is responsible for ensuring the respirator fits correctly?
- The worker alone, as it is personal equipment
- The equipment manufacturer
- The employer, who must provide fit testing (Correct answer)
- OSHA inspectors during site visits
Correct answer: The employer, who must provide fit testing
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 requires employers to conduct fit testing for tight-fitting respirators before initial use and annually thereafter.
PTS Protective Equipment (PPE) 2
What is the minimum ANSI class rating required for a high-visibility vest worn by track workers in active rail corridors?