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

§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 subsections (b) and (c).

(b) When head protection is required, the employer shall ensure that approved protective helmets are selected and used in accordance with their demonstrated resistance to impact and electrical hazards as specified in subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2).

(1) Protective helmets placed in service after October 30, 2004 shall comply with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z89.1-1997 Industrial Head Protection, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The employer shall ensure that the appropriate 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 approved 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 approved 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 approved Class E.

(2) Protective helmets placed in service on or before October 30, 2004 shall comply with one of the following ANSI standards, which are hereby incorporated by reference: ANSI Z89.1-1969 Safety Requirements for Industrial Head Protection; ANSI Z89.2-1971 Industrial Protective Helmets for Electrical Workers, Class B; ANSI Z89.1-1981 Requirements for Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers; ANSI Z89.1-1986 Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers -- Requirements; or ANSI Z89.1-1997 Industrial Head Protection. The employer shall ensure that the appropriate 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 approved Class A, B, C, D, 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 approved Class A, B, D, 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 approved Class B or E.

(c) Each approved protective helmet required by subsection (a) shall bear the original marking 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 of helmet.

(d) 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).