Head & Face Protection

Workers operating in areas that present the danger of injury from electric shock or burns must wear the appropriate nonconductive head protection. This protective equipment must conform to OSHA requirements modeled on the ANSI Z89.1-2014, American National Standard for Personal Protection-Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers Requirements.

The ANSI standard organizes helmets into types and classes, and manufacturers include these designations on helmet labels. A hard had type indicates the designated level of protection. Type I helmets provide protection from blows to the top of the head, while Type II helmets protect both the top and sides. A balaclava, or head protective fabric, must be worn in combination with a face shield if a risk of shock to the back of the head exists. When the anticipated incident energy exposure exceeds 12 cal/cm2, an arc rated (AR) arc flash suit hood must be used. Face shields that provide the highest levels of protection are typically tinted and can reduce visibility. Additional lighting should be used to compensate for the loss of visual acuity.

To learn more about Arc Flash Safety visit our OSHA Construction Arc Flash Safety Online Training web page.