PPE Quiz

Posted June 26, 2023

In 2023, Tip of the Week

In the past two weeks we have mentioned personal protective equipment (PPE) in the safety tips. It seems appropriate to give you a quiz on the topic. Test yourself. As in the past, the answers will be at the end of the quiz.

1. Two weeks ago we discussed respiratory protection. There are some prerequisites to using a respirator. What are they?

A. The employee must have a medical evaluation to make sure the respirator does not cause an additional physiological burden.

B. The employee must be fit tested annually to the type of respirator they will wear to make sure the respirator will fit properly.

C. The employee must be trained annually on the inhalation hazards they may encounter at the workplace.

D. Only A and B are correct.

E. Only A and C are correct.

F. All the above are correct.

2. In additional to respiratory protection, the regulations require that employees using one other type of PPE must have annual training. What is it?

A. Hearing protection.

B. Hard hats.

C. Safety glasses and goggles.

D. Gloves.

E. It is required that employees have annual training on all types of PPE.

3. In some cases, when working from heights, it is required for employees to wear personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). The regulation requires that the PFAS must inspected on a prescribed basis. Who does the regulation say should do the inspection?

A. The manufacturer should do the inspection.

B. A competent person should do the inspection.

C. A qualified person should do the inspection.

D. A supervisor should do the inspection.

E. B and C are correct.

F. None of the above are correct.

4. Safety glasses must meet safety criteria from which group or organization?

A. The National Institutes for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH).

B. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

C. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

D. The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP).

5. True or False: When an employee owns and provides their own PPE for use on the job, it becomes the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the employee’s PPE is properly maintained and kept sanitized and clean.

A. True.

B. False.

Discussion Question:

6. Is there an exception in the regulation for respiratory protection that an employee is not required to be fit tested annually?

Answers:

1. F. All the answers are correct. (29 CFR Part 1910.134

2. A. Annual training is required for hearing protection. (29 CFR Part 1910.95

3. E. A competent or qualified person should inspect knots in lanyards. 29 CFR Part 1910.140

4. B. Safety glasses and goggles must meet ANSI standards. 29 CFR Part 1910.133

5. A. It is true – even when the employee provides their own, it is the employer’s responsibility to make sure it is properly maintained and kept sanitized and clean. 29 CFR Part 1910.132

6. Yes. When respiratory protection is not required due to the low level of hazards, but employees voluntarily want to use protection, they may do so under a Voluntary Respiratory Protection Program. They must have medical evaluations, and maintain their respirators in a sanitary condition, but fit testing is not required.