SAF Personal Protective Equipment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which PPE element is considered the LAST resort in the hierarchy of hazard controls?
- Engineering controls
- Administrative controls
- Substitution of hazardous materials
- Personal protective equipment (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Personal protective equipment
PPE sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls because it does not eliminate the hazard—it only protects the individual worker from exposure.
Question 2: Safety footwear with an ASTM F2413 rating is tested for which primary hazard?
- Electrical arc flash
- Compression and impact to the toe (Correct answer)
- Chemical permeation through the sole
- Slip resistance on oily surfaces
Correct answer: Compression and impact to the toe
ASTM F2413 establishes performance requirements for protective toe footwear, primarily testing resistance to impact and compression at the toe.
Question 3: An employee working near unguarded electrical equipment energized above 50 volts should wear gloves rated for at least which class?
- Class 00
- Class 0
- Class 1 or higher, depending on voltage (Correct answer)
- No special gloves are required below 600 volts
Correct answer: Class 1 or higher, depending on voltage
OSHA and NFPA 70E require rubber insulating gloves rated at the appropriate class for the voltage present; Class 1 protects up to 7,500 volts AC.
Question 4: What does an APF (Assigned Protection Factor) of 10 for a half-face air-purifying respirator mean?
- The respirator filters 10 types of contaminants
- The wearer can work in atmospheres up to 10 times the PEL (Correct answer)
- The respirator has a 10-hour service life
- The filter must be replaced every 10 days
Correct answer: The wearer can work in atmospheres up to 10 times the PEL
An APF of 10 means the respirator reduces the wearer's exposure so they experience no more than one-tenth of the ambient contaminant concentration.
Question 5: Hearing protection with an NRR of 30 dB is used in an environment measured at 100 dBA. What is the estimated protected exposure level using the OSHA field-use method?
- 55 dBA
- 70 dBA
- 85 dBA (Correct answer)
- 90 dBA
Correct answer: 85 dBA
OSHA's field-use method derates NRR by 50%: 100 − (30/2) = 100 − 15 = 85 dBA, which meets the OSHA 90 dBA PEL but approaches the action level.
Question 6: Which condition automatically disqualifies a disposable N95 respirator from continued use?
- The respirator has been worn for more than four hours
- The respirator is soiled, damaged, or breathing resistance has significantly increased (Correct answer)
- The user has changed work tasks during the shift
- The ambient temperature exceeds 85°F
Correct answer: The respirator is soiled, damaged, or breathing resistance has significantly increased
A disposable N95 must be discarded if it is physically damaged, soiled with blood or other fluids, or if breathing resistance increases due to filter loading.
Question 7: Which standard governs the selection and use of eye and face protection in general industry?
- ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 (Correct answer)
- ANSI/ISEA Z89.1
- ASTM F1506
- NFPA 70E
Correct answer: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1
ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 is the American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices, referenced by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.133.
SAF Personal Protective Equipment 3
Which PPE element is considered the LAST resort in the hierarchy of hazard controls?