29 Cfr 1910.137

Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
§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 WorkersRequirements,’’ 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]

§1910.136

Foot protection.

(a) General requirements. The employer shall ensure that each affected
employee uses protective footwear
when working in areas where there is a
danger of foot injuries due to falling or
rolling objects, or objects piercing the
sole, and where such employee’s feet
are exposed to electrical hazards.
(b) Criteria for protective footwear. (1)
Protective footwear purchased after
July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI
Z41–1991, ‘‘American National Standard
for Personal Protection—Protective
Footwear,’’ which is incorporated by
reference as specified in § 1910.6, or
shall be demonstrated by the employer
to be equally effective.
(2) Protective footwear purchased before July 5, 1994 shall comply with the
ANSI standard ‘‘USA Standard for
Men’s Safety-Toe Footwear,’’ Z41.1–
1967, which is incorporated by reference

§ 1910.137

as specified in § 1910.6, or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be equally effective.
[59 FR 16362, Apr. 6, 1994; 59 FR 33911, July 1,
1994, as amended at 61 FR 9238, Mar. 7, 1996;
61 FR 19548, May 2, 1996; 61 FR 21228, May 9,
1996]

§ 1910.137 Electrical protective equipment.
(a) Design requirements. Insulating
blankets, matting, covers, line hose,
gloves, and sleeves made of rubber
shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Manufacture and marking. (i) Blankets, gloves, and sleeves shall be produced by a seamless process.
(ii) Each item shall be clearly
marked as follows:
(A) Class 0 equipment shall be
marked Class 0.
(B) Class 1 equipment shall be
marked Class 1.
(C) Class 2 equipment shall be
marked Class 2.
(D) Class 3 equipment shall be
marked Class 3.
(E) Class 4 equipment shall be
marked Class 4.
(F) Non-ozone-resistant equipment
other than matting shall be marked
Type I.
(G) Ozone-resistant equipment other
than matting shall be marked Type II.
(H) Other relevant markings, such as
the manufacturer’s identification and
the size of the equipment, may also be
provided.
(iii) Markings shall be nonconducting
and shall be applied in such a manner
as not to impair the insulating qualities of the equipment.
(iv) Markings on gloves shall be confined to the cuff portion of the glove.
(2) Electrical requirements. (i) Equipment shall be capable of withstanding
the a-c proof-test voltage specified in
Table I–2 or the d-c proof-test voltage
specified in Table I–3.
(A) The proof test shall reliably indicate that the equipment can withstand
the voltage involved.
(B) The test voltage shall be applied
continuously for 3 minutes for equipment other than matting and shall be
applied continuously for 1 minute for
matting.
(C) Gloves shall also be capable of
withstanding the a-c proof-test voltage

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§ 1910.137

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

specified in Table I–2 after a 16-hour
water soak. (See the note following
paragraph (a)(3)(ii)(B) of this section.)
(ii) When the a-c proof test is used on
gloves, the 60-hertz proof-test current
may not exceed the values specified in
Table I–2 at any time during the test
period.
(A) If the a-c proof test is made at a
frequency other than 60 hertz, the permissible proof-test current shall be
computed from the direct ratio of the
frequencies.
(B) For the test, gloves (right side
out) shall be filled with tap water and
immersed in water to a depth that is in
accordance with Table I–4. Water shall
be added to or removed from the glove,
as necessary, so that the water level is
the same inside and outside the glove.
(C) After the 16-hour water soak specified in paragraph (a)(2)(i)(C) of this
section, the 60-hertz proof-test current
may exceed the values given in Table I–
2 by not more than 2 milliamperes.
(iii) Equipment that has been subjected to a minimum breakdown voltage test may not be used for electrical
protection. (See the note following
paragraph (a)(3)(ii)(B) of this section.)
(iv) Material used for Type II insulating equipment shall be capable of
withstanding an ozone test, with no
visible effects. The ozone test shall reliably indicate that the material will
resist ozone exposure in actual use.
Any visible signs of ozone deterioration
of the material, such as checking,
cracking, breaks, or pitting, is evidence of failure to meet the requirements for ozone-resistant material.
(See the note following paragraph
(a)(3)(ii)(B) of this section.)
(3) Workmanship and finish. (i) Equipment shall be free of harmful physical
irregularities that can be detected by
the tests or inspections required under
this section.
(ii) Surface irregularities that may
be present on all rubber goods because
of imperfections on forms or molds or
because of inherent difficulties in the
manufacturing process and that may
appear as indentations, protuberances,
or imbedded foreign material are acceptable under the following conditions:

(A) The indentation or protuberance
blends into a smooth slope when the
material is stretched.
(B) Foreign material remains in
place when the insulating material is
folded and stretches with the insulating material surrounding it.
NOTE: Rubber insulating equipment meeting the following national consensus standards is deemed to be in compliance with
paragraph (a) of this section:
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D 120–87, Specification for Rubber Insulating Gloves.
ASTM D 178–93 (or D 178–88) Specification
for Rubber Insulating Matting.
ASTM D 1048–93 (or D 1048–88a) Specification for Rubber Insulating Blankets.
ASTM D 1049–93 (or D 1049–88) Specification
for Rubber Insulating Covers.
ASTM D 1050–90, Specification for Rubber
Insulating Line Hose.
ASTM D 1051–87, Specification for Rubber
Insulating Sleeves.
These standards contain specifications for
conducting the various tests required in
paragraph (a) of this section. For example,
the a-c and d-c proof tests, the breakdown
test, the water soak procedure, and the
ozone test mentioned in this paragraph are
described in detail in the ASTM standards.

(b) In-service care and use. (1) Electrical protective equipment shall be
maintained in a safe, reliable condition.
(2) The following specific requirements apply to insulating blankets,
covers, line hose, gloves, and sleeves
made of rubber:
(i) Maximum use voltages shall conform to those listed in Table I–5.
(ii) Insulating equipment shall be inspected for damage before each day’s
use and immediately following any incident that can reasonably be suspected of having caused damage. Insulating gloves shall be given an air test,
along with the inspection.
(iii) Insulating equipment with any
of the following defects may not be
used:
(A) A hole, tear, puncture, or cut;
(B) Ozone cutting or ozone checking
(the cutting action produced by ozone
on rubber under mechanical stress into
a series of interlacing cracks);
(C) An embedded foreign object;
(D) Any of the following texture
changes: swelling, softening, hardening, or becoming sticky or inelastic.

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(E) Any other defect that damages
the insulating properties.
(iv) Insulating equipment found to
have other defects that might affect its
insulating properties shall be removed
from service and returned for testing
under
paragraphs
(b)(2)(viii)
and
(b)(2)(ix) of this section.
(v) Insulating equipment shall be
cleaned as needed to remove foreign
substances.
(vi) Insulating equipment shall be
stored in such a location and in such a
manner as to protect it from light,
temperature extremes, excessive humidity, ozone, and other injurious substances and conditions.
(vii) Protector gloves shall be worn
over insulating gloves, except as follows:
(A) Protector gloves need not be used
with Class 0 gloves, under limited-use
conditions, where small equipment and
parts manipulation necessitate unusually high finger dexterity.
NOTE: Extra care is needed in the visual examination of the glove and in the avoidance
of handling sharp objects.

(B) Any other class of glove may be
used for similar work without protector gloves if the employer can demonstrate that the possibility of physical damage to the gloves is small and
if the class of glove is one class higher
than that required for the voltage involved. Insulating gloves that have
been used without protector gloves
may not be used at a higher voltage
until they have been tested under the
provisions of paragraphs (b)(2)(viii) and
(b)(2)(ix) of this section.
(viii) Electrical protective equipment
shall be subjected to periodic electrical
tests. Test voltages and the maximum
intervals between tests shall be in accordance with Table I–5 and Table I–6.
(ix) The test method used under paragraphs (b)(2)(viii) and (b)(2)(ix) of this
section shall reliably indicate whether
the insulating equipment can withstand the voltages involved.
NOTE: Standard electrical test methods
considered as meeting this requirement are
given in the following national consensus
standards:
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D 120–87, Specification for Rubber Insulating Gloves.
ASTM D 1048–93, Specification for Rubber
Insulating Blankets.

§ 1910.137

ASTM D 1049–93, Specification for Rubber
Insulating Covers.
ASTM D 1050–90, Specification for Rubber
Insulating Line Hose.
ASTM D 1051–87, Specification for Rubber
Insulating Sleeves.
ASTM F 478–92, Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Line Hose and Covers.
ASTM F 479–93, Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Blankets.
ASTM F 496–93b Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Gloves and Sleeves.

(x) Insulating equipment failing to
pass inspections or electrical tests may
not be used by employees, except as
follows:
(A) Rubber insulating line hose may
be used in shorter lengths with the defective portion cut off.
(B) Rubber insulating blankets may
be repaired using a compatible patch
that results in physical and electrical
properties equal to those of the blanket.
(C) Rubber insulating blankets may
be salvaged by severing the defective
area from the undamaged portion of
the blanket. The resulting undamaged
area may not be smaller than 22 inches
by 22 inches (560 mm by 560 mm) for
Class 1, 2, 3, and 4 blankets.
(D) Rubber insulating gloves and
sleeves with minor physical defects,
such as small cuts, tears, or punctures,
may be repaired by the application of a
compatible patch. Also, rubber insulating gloves and sleeves with minor
surface blemishes may be repaired with
a compatible liquid compound. The
patched area shall have electrical and
physical properties equal to those of
the surrounding material. Repairs to
gloves are permitted only in the area
between the wrist and the reinforced
edge of the opening.
(xi) Repaired insulating equipment
shall be retested before it may be used
by employees.
(xii) The employer shall certify that
equipment has been tested in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs
(b)(2)(viii),
(b)(2)(ix),
and
(b)(2)(xi) of this section. The certification shall identify the equipment
that passed the test and the date it was
tested.
NOTE: Marking of equipment and entering
the results of the tests and the dates of testing onto logs are two acceptable means of
meeting this requirement.

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§ 1910.137

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)
TABLE I-2—A-C PROOF-TEST REQUIREMENTS
Maximum proof-test current, mA (gloves only)
Proof-test
voltage
rms V

Class of equipment

0
1
2
3
4

..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................

5,000
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000

267-mm
(10.5-in)
glove

356-mm
(14-in)
glove

8
..................
..................
..................
..................

12
14
16
18
..................

406-mm
(16-in)
glove

457-mm
(18-in)
glove

14
16
18
20
22

16
18
20
22
24

TABLE I-3—D-C PROOF-TEST REQUIREMENTS
Proof-test
voltage

Class of equipment
0
1
2
3
4

.....................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................

NOTE: The d-c voltages listed in this table
are not appropriate for proof testing rubber
insulating line hose or covers. For this
equipment, d-c proof tests shall use a voltage
high enough to indicate that the equipment

20,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000

can be safely used at the voltages listed in
Table I–4. See ASTM D 1050–90 and ASTM D
1049–88 for further information on proof tests
for rubber insulating line hose and covers.

TABLE I–4—GLOVE TESTS—WATER LEVEL 1, 2
AC proof test

DC proof test

Class of glove
mm.
0
1
2
3
4

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

38
38
64
89
127

in.

mm.

1.5
1.5
2.5
3.5
5.0

38
51
76
102
153

in.
1.5
2.0
3.0
4.0
6.0

1 The water level is given as the clearance from the cuff of the glove to the water line, with a tolerance of ±13 mm. (±0.5 in.).
2 If atmospheric conditions make the specified clearances impractical, the clearances may be increased by a maximum of 25
mm. (1 in.).

TABLE I–5—RUBBER INSULATING EQUIPMENT VOLTAGE REQUIREMENTS
Class of equipment
0
1
2
3
4

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................

Maximum use
voltage 1 a-c—
rms

Retest voltage 2 a-c—rms

Retest voltage 2 d-c—avg

1,000
7,500
17,000
26,500
36,000

5,000
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000

20,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000

1 The maximum use voltage is the a-c voltage (rms) classification of the protective equipment that designates the maximum
nominal design voltage of the energized system that may be safely worked. The nominal design voltage is equal to the phase-tophase voltage on multiphase circuits. However, the phase-to-ground potential is considered to be the nominal design voltage:
(1) If there is no multiphase exposure in a system area and if the voltage exposure is limited to the phase-to-ground potential,
or
(2) If the electrical equipment and devices are insulated or isolated or both so that the multiphase exposure on a grounded
wye circuit is removed.
2 The proof-test voltage shall be applied continuously for at least 1 minute, but no more than 3 minutes.

TABLE I–6—RUBBER INSULATING EQUIPMENT TEST INTERVALS
Type of equipment

When to test

Rubber insulating line hose .........................................................
Rubber insulating covers .............................................................
Rubber insulating blankets ..........................................................

Upon indication that insulating value is suspect.
Upon indication that insulating value is suspect.
Before first issue and every 12 months thereafter.1

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor

Pt. 1910, Subpt. I, App. B

TABLE I–6—RUBBER INSULATING EQUIPMENT TEST INTERVALS—Continued
Type of equipment

When to test

Rubber insulating gloves .............................................................
Rubber insulating sleeves ...........................................................

Before first issue and every 6 months thereafter.1
Before first issue and every 12 months thereafter.1

1 If the insulating equipment has been electrically tested but not issued for service, it may not be placed into service unless it
has been electrically tested within the previous 12 months.

[59 FR 4435, Jan. 31, 1994; 59 FR 33662, June 30, 1994]

§ 1910.138 Hand protection.
(a) General requirements. Employers
shall select and require employees to
use appropriate hand protection when
employees’ hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts
or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns;
and harmful temperature extremes.
(b) Selection. Employers shall base
the selection of the appropriate hand
protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand
protection relative to the task(s) to be
performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified.
[59 FR 16362, Apr. 6, 1994; 59 FR 33911, July 1,
1994]

APPENDIX A TO SUBPART I OF PART
1910—REFERENCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION (NON-MANDATORY)
The documents in appendix A provide information which may be helpful in understanding and implementing the standards in
Subpart I.
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ‘‘Accidents Involving Eye Injuries.’’ Report 597,
Washington, D.C.: BLS, 1980.
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ‘‘Accidents Involving Face Injuries.’’ Report 604,
Washington, D.C.: BLS, 1980.
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ‘‘Accidents Involving Head Injuries.’’ Report 605,
Washington, D.C.: BLS, 1980.
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ‘‘Accidents Involving Foot Injuries.’’ Report 626,
Washington, D.C.: BLS, 1981.
5. National Safety Council. ‘‘Accident
Facts’’, Annual edition, Chicago, IL: 1981.
6. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ‘‘Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in the
United States by Industry,’’ Annual edition,
Washington, D.C.: BLS.
7. National Society to Prevent Blindness.
‘‘A Guide for Controlling Eye Injuries in Industry,’’ Chicago, Il: 1982.
[59 FR 16362, Apr. 6, 1994]

APPENDIX B TO SUBPART I TO PART
1910—NON-MANDATORY COMPLIANCE
GUIDELINES FOR HAZARD ASSESSMENT AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT SELECTION
This appendix is intended to provide compliance assistance for employers and employees in implementing requirements for a hazard assessment and the selection of personal
protective equipment.
1. Controlling hazards. PPE devices alone
should not be relied on to provide protection
against hazards, but should be used in conjunction with guards, engineering controls,
and sound manufacturing practices.
2. Assessment and selection. It is necessary
to consider certain general guidelines for assessing the foot, head, eye and face, and hand
hazard situations that exist in an occupational or educational operation or process,
and to match the protective devices to the
particular hazard. It should be the responsibility of the safety officer to exercise common sense and appropriate expertise to accomplish these tasks.
3. Assessment guidelines. In order to assess
the need for PPE the following steps should
be taken:
a. Survey. Conduct a walk-through survey
of the areas in question. The purpose of the
survey is to identify sources of hazards to
workers and co-workers. Consideration
should be given to the basic hazard categories:
(a) Impact
(b) Penetration
(c) Compression (roll-over)
(d) Chemical
(e) Heat
(f) Harmful dust
(g) Light (optical) radiation
b. Sources. During the walk-through survey
the safety officer should observe: (a) sources
of motion; i.e., machinery or processes where
any movement of tools, machine elements or
particles could exist, or movement of personnel that could result in collision with stationary objects; (b) sources of high temperatures that could result in burns, eye injury
or ignition of protective equipment, etc.; (c)
types of chemical exposures; (d) sources of
harmful dust; (e) sources of light radiation,
i.e., welding, brazing, cutting, furnaces, heat
treating, high intensity lights, etc.; (f)

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