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Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 2. Safe Practices and Personal Protection
Article 10.1. Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment for Fire Fighters

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§3403. Head, Eye and Face Protection.


(a) Head Protection. Head protection shall be provided to each fire fighter, and shall be maintained in a location of readiness for immediate response to fires and like emergencies. Head protection shall be worn by fire fighters whenever they are exposed to head injury hazard. Head protection is normally provided for fire fighters through the use of helmets.
(b) Eye and Face Protection.
(1) Eye protection and/or face protection shall be provided to and used by each fire fighter to protect from eye or face injuries such as punctures, abrasions, contusions, or burns as a result of contact with flying particles, hazardous substances, or projections which are inherent in the work or environment.
(2) In-service Eye and Face Protection. Eye and face protection shall meet the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, 2007 Edition or American National Standard Institute/International Safety Equipment Association, American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices, ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, it shall bear the mark “Z87+”.
(3) Primary eye protection shall be required unless the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is being used. The full facepiece of SCBA shall be considered as face and eye protection when worn.
(A) If the facepiece has a face-mounted regulator that when disconnected provides a direct path for flying objects to strike the face or eye, the facepiece shall have the regulator attached in order to be considered as eye and face protection.
(4) When operating in a hazardous area at an emergency scene without a full-face respirator, fire fighters shall wear primary eye protection that is designed to protect the eyes from the hazard.

Credits

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 142.3 and 147.4, Labor Code.
History
1. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 9-11-80; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 37).
2. Amendment filed 4-29-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 18).
3. Amendment filed 11-5-87; operative 12-5-87 (Register 87, No. 46).
4. Amendment of section heading, section and Note filed 11-7-2022; operative 1-1-2023 (Register 2022, No. 45). Transmission deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(b) extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-71-20. Filing deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(a) extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-71-20.


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