Head & face protection

Things You Need To Know

The employer shall ensure that each employee wears a protective helmet when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects. The employer shall ensure that a protective helmet designed to reduce electrical shock hazard is worn by each such employee when near exposed electrical conductors which could contact the head and shall comply with ANSI Z89.1-2003, American National Standard for Personal Protection -Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers - Requirements.

American National Standard for Head Protection
The most recent standard was approved in July 2003 and continues to cover requirements for two types of impact-resistant helmets:

TYPE I (Top Impact) Helmets intended to reduce the force of an impact to the top of a wearer's head.
TYPE II (Top and Lateral Impact) Helmets intended to reduce the force of an impact resulting from a blow received off-center or to the top of a wearer's head.

Electrical Performance

CLASS E (Electrical) Intended to reduce the danger of exposure to high-voltage electrical conductors, proof-tested at 20,000 volts.
CLASS G (General) Intended to reduce the danger of exposure to low-voltage electrical conductors, proof-tested at 2,200 volts.
CLASS C (Conductive) Not intended to provide protection from electrical conductors.