§1910.135 Head Protection

(a) General requirements. (1) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee wears a protective helmet when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects.

(2) The employer shall ensure that a protective helmet designed to reduce electrical shock hazard is worn by each such affected employee when near exposed electrical conductors which could contact the head.

(b) Criteria for protective helmets. (1) Protective helmets purchased after July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI Z89.1–1986, “American National Standard for Personnel Protection—Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers-Requirements,” which is incorporated by reference as specified in §1910.6, or shall be demonstrated to be equally effective.

(2) Protective helmets purchased before July 5, 1994 shall comply with the ANSI standard “American National Standard Safety Requirements for Industrial Head Protection,” ANSI Z89.1–1969, which is incorporated by reference as specified in §1910.6, or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be equally effective.

[59 FR 16362, Apr. 6, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 9238, Mar. 7, 1996; 61 FR 19548, May 2, 1996]