510 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 1-8

Sections

5-8. General Requirements.

Minimum Requirements:

Employees must wear appropriate clothing for the weather and work conditions, including:

Short sleeve shirt.
Long pants (not excessively long or baggy).
Leather or protective footwear (no open-toed shoes).

Use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) should only be considered after hazard evaluation when engineering or administrative controls are insufficient.

Employers must provide required PPE.
Employees must use all PPE as directed.
All employees using PPE must be trained.
All PPE must be inspected, tested, and maintained per manufacturer's instructions.

Head Protection (Hard Hats or Helmets):

Head protection is mandatory when there's a risk of head injury (impact, falling objects, electrical burns).

Select suitable head protection based on activity and manufacturer's instructions.
Head protection must meet ANSI Z89.1 requirements.
Use Type I or Type II, Class G or Class E head protection as appropriate.
Use Type II head protection for activities needing side impact protection.
Class E head protection near electric lines and equipment.

Construction areas are generally hard hat areas, but exceptions are allowed if documented in the AHA (Activity Hazard Analysis).
Post warning signs for head protection requirements.

Do not modify head protection without manufacturer approval, except for authorized stickers.
Do not wear other headgear under the hard hat that interferes with fit.
Perform daily visual inspections for damage and periodic UV degradation checks.
Wear chin straps during high winds or working on elevated structures.
USACE employees' protective headgear must be white with specific markings.

White color with a 1-inch red reflective band at the base.
Corps of Engineers castle insignia at the front.
Name and organization title can be placed above and below the insignia.
American Flag insignia can be worn on the back.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

5-6. What type of head protection must be worn near electric lines and equipment.

Type I

Type II

Type III

Class E

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EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 5-8 (a.–b.).

5-8. General Requirements. (a.–b.).

a.  Minimum Requirements.

(1)  Employees must wear clothing suitable for the weather and work conditions. For fieldwork (for example, construction sites, industrial operations and maintenance activities, emergency operations, regulatory inspections), at a minimum, this is:

(a)  Short sleeve shirt.

(b)  Long pants (excessively long or baggy pants are prohibited).

(2)  The use of PPE and safety equipment is a control measure that should only be used after a hazard evaluation is preformed and it is determined that the hazards cannot be eliminated and/or controlled to an acceptable level through engineering design or administrative actions, or as a secondary control to provide an additional layer of protection. See paragraphs 5-4 and 1-6.a or 2-6.a, as applicable.

(a)  Employers must identify and provide the required PPE for employee use. Identify PPE required for work activities in the applicable AHAs and PHAs.  See paragraph 5-6 and chapters 1 or 2, as applicable.

(b)  Employees must use all PPE and safety equipment as directed by the employer and this manual (see para 5-4).

(3)  All employees required to use PPE must be trained according (see para 5-3). (4)  All PPE must be inspected, tested, and maintained according to the
    manufacturer’s instructions (see para 5-5).

b.  Head Protection (that is, hard hats or helmets).  Head protection is required when there is a potential for head injury from, to include but not limited to, impact, falling or flying objects, or electrical burns.  (5-8.b)

(1)  Select the proper head protection based on the activity and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

(a)  All head protection must meet the requirements of ANSI Z89.1.

(b)  All persons working in or visiting hard hat areas must be provided with and required to wear Type I or Type II, Class G or Class E head protection as appropriate.

(c)  Select Type II head protection for emergency response operations and other activities with greater need for side impact protection (see chapter 37).

(d)  Class E head protection must be worn when working near or on electric lines and equipment.

(2)  Generally, all construction areas are considered hard hat areas.  However, specific areas may be designated as non-hard hat areas or activities may be considered non-hard hat activities, if identified and properly documented in the associated AHA.

(3)  Post a warning sign requiring the use of head protection according to chapter 8.

(4)  Do not make any modifications to a hard hat or helmet shell, suspension, or other associated components (for example, paint, drill holes), except when such changes are applied or approved by the manufacturer.  Stickers are allowed provided they do not interfere with the ability to properly inspect it.

(5)  Do not wear ball caps, knit caps, or other headdress under the head protection that could interfere with the fit or stability, unless authorized or provided by the manufacturer.

(6)  Perform a daily visual inspection of protective headgear and components for signs of damage (for example, dents, cracks) that might reduce the degree of safety integrity originally provided.  Periodically inspect headgear for ultraviolet degradation as evidenced by cracking or flaking of the helmet.  (See para 5-5)

(7)  Wear chin straps on hard hats or helmets during high wind conditions or working on elevated structures.

(8)  Protective headgear worn by USACE employees must, in addition to complying with the preceding specifications, be:

(a)  White in color and marked with a 1-inch (2.5 cm) band of red reflective material placed along the base of the crown with 5 inches (12.7 cm) break in front. Have a red Corps of Engineers castle insignia centered at the front of the hat with the base of the insignia approximately three-quarter (¾) inch (1.9 cm) above the base of the crown.  Personnel may place their name above the insignia and their organization title below the insignia. The rank of military personnel should precede their name.  An American Flag insignia may be worn on the back of the hard hat.

(b)  Submit requests for variations in color and marking to accommodate occupational specialties for consideration to HQUSACE-SO.