WAC 296-800-16055   Make sure your employees use appropriate head protection.  You must:

     (1) Make sure employees wear appropriate protective helmets.

     • Where employees are exposed to hazards that could cause a head injury. Examples of this type of hazard include:

     – Flying or propelled objects.

     – Falling objects or materials.

     • Where employees are working around or under scaffolds or other overhead structures.

     • That helmets meet the specifications of either the 1997 or 2003 version of ANSI Z89.1, American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, or the 1986 version of ANSI Z89.1, American National Standard for Personnel Protection -- Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers -- Requirements.

     – You may use protective helmets that do not meet these ANSI standards if you can demonstrate that they are equally effective as those constructed in accordance with the above ANSIs.

     (2) Make sure employees working near exposed electrical conductors that could contact their head wear a protective helmet designed (that meet the above ANSI standards) to reduce electrical shock hazard.

     • Caps with metal buttons or metal visors must not be worn around electrical hazards.

     (3) Make sure employees working around machinery or in locations that present a hair-catching or fire hazard wear caps or head coverings that completely cover their hair.

     • Employees must wear a hair net that controls all loose ends when:

     – Hair is as long as the radius of pressure rolls with exposed in-running nip points.

     – Hair is twice as long as the circumference of exposed revolving shafts or tools in fixed machines.

     • Employees must wear a hair covering of solid material when:

     – The employee is exposed to an ignition source and may run into an area containing class-1 flammable liquids, such as ether, benzene, or combustible atmospheres if their hair is on fire.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. 10-09-088, § 296-800-16055, filed 4/20/10, effective 6/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-800-16055, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01.]