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Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 2. Safe Practices and Personal Protection
Article 10. Personal Safety Devices and Safeguards
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§3381. Head Protection.


(a) Employees working in locations where there is a risk of receiving head injuries from flying or falling objects and/or electric shock and burns shall wear approved head protection in accordance with this section.

(b) When head protection is required, the employer shall provide each employee with head protection that meets the criteria in one of the following standards, which are hereby incorporated by reference:

(1) American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Z89.1-2009, “American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection;”

(2) ANSI Z89.1-2003, “American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection;” or

(3) ANSI Z89.1-1997, “American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection.”

(c)(1) The employer shall ensure that the appropriate impact type helmet is selected and used.

Note: Protective helmets are described by impact type and electrical class. All protective helmets required by subsection (b) meet either Type I or Type II impact requirements. Type I helmets are intended to reduce the force of impact resulting from a blow only to the top of the head. Type II helmets are intended to reduce the force of impact resulting from a blow to the top or sides of the head.

(2) The employer shall ensure that the appropriate electrical class of ANSI designated helmet is selected and used in accordance with the following:

(A) When there is no risk of head injury from contact with electrical conductors, and protective helmets are only required to reduce the danger of injury from flying or falling objects, protective helmets shall be ANSI-Z89.1 designated Class C, E, or G.

(B) When there is a risk of head injury from contact with conductors less than 600 volts, protective helmets shall be ANSI-Z89.1 designated Class E or G.

(C) When there is a risk of head injury from contact with conductors greater than 600 volts, protective helmets shall be ANSI-Z89.1 designated Class E.

(3) The employer shall ensure that the head protection provided for each employee exposed to high-voltage electric shock and burns also meets the specifications contained in Section 9.7 “Electrical Insulation” of any of the consensus standards identified in subsection (b) of this section.

(d) Each approved protective helmet required by subsection (b) shall bear the permanent markings required by the ANSI standard under which it was approved. At a minimum, the marking shall identify the manufacturer, ANSI designated standard number and date, and ANSI designated class and impact type of helmet.

(e) Where there is a risk of injury from hair entanglements in moving parts of machinery, combustibles or toxic contaminants, employees shall confine their hair to eliminate the hazard.

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

HISTORY

1. Repealer and new section filed 7-11-74; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 74, No. 28).

2. Amendment of subsection (a) and newly designated subsection (b)(1), new subsection (b)(2), repealer of subsection (c), subsection relettering, and new Note filed 12-13-94; operative 1-12-95 (Register 94, No. 50).

3. Amendment filed 9-30-2004; operative 10-30-2004 (Register 2004, No. 40).

4. Amendment filed 3-14-2013; operative 7-1-2013 (Register 2013, No. 11).

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