CA Plumbing PrepC-36 License Exam Prep
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Trade Exam · Module 6

Personal Protective Equipment for Plumbers

Lesson 7 of 8~20 minFree previewCurrent as of September 2026Leer en español

PPE is the last line of defense, and Cal/OSHA spells out what it has to be: a hazard assessment, hard hats meeting ANSI Z89.1 by type and class, eye protection meeting ANSI Z87.1 with filter shades for the torch, hand protection matched to the hazard, ASTM F2413 safety footwear, hearing protectors from an 85 dBA average, and respirators that are NIOSH certified, medically cleared and fit tested under Section 5144.

Key Takeaways

  • The employer assesses the workplace for hazards, selects PPE that protects against them, tells each worker, and picks PPE that fits (Title 8 Section 3380(f)).
  • Hard hats meet ANSI Z89.1; Type I protects the top of the head, Type II the top and sides; Class E or G is needed where there is contact risk with conductors under 600 volts (Section 3381).
  • Eye and face protection meets ANSI Z87.1; workers who need vision correction get prescription safety glasses, goggles that fit over glasses, or goggles with corrective lenses behind the protective lenses (Section 3382).
  • Protective footwear bought after January 26, 2007 meets ASTM F2413 (Section 3385).
  • Hearing protectors are made available at no cost from an 8-hour average of 85 dBA; NIOSH recommends earplugs under earmuffs at 100 dBA or more (Section 5098; NIOSH).
  • Before a worker uses a required respirator, the employer provides a medical evaluation, then a fit test for any tight-fitting respirator, repeated at least annually (Section 5144(e), (f)).
  • An N95 is a filtering facepiece respirator for particles only; gases and vapors need a cartridge respirator selected for the chemical (Section 5144).
  • Replace a hard hat after a significant impact, and follow the manufacturer's service life for the shell and suspension.

PPE Comes Last, but It Has to Be Right

On the hierarchy of controls, PPE comes after eliminating the hazard, substituting something safer, engineering controls and work practices. When PPE is the answer, Cal/OSHA's rules decide what counts.

  • Hazard assessment. The employer assesses the workplace for hazards that call for PPE, selects PPE that protects against them, communicates those choices to each affected employee, and selects PPE that properly fits each worker (Title 8 Section 3380(f)).
  • Approved, marked, maintained. PPE is approved for its use, marked so the manufacturer can be identified, used according to the manufacturer's instructions, and kept in safe, sanitary condition, whether the employer or the employee provided it (Sections 3380 and 1514).
  • Who pays. The Title 8 PPE orders say the employer "shall provide" head, eye and hand protection, and Section 5098 requires hearing protectors at no cost. Federal OSHA's construction rule states PPE is provided by the employer at no cost to employees, with limited exceptions (29 CFR 1926.95(d)), and California Labor Code 2802 requires employers to reimburse necessary work expenses. The exam answer is the employer.
  • Worker's part. The employer must require employees to use the required PPE (Section 1514(a)), and every employee must follow the safety orders that apply to their own conduct (Labor Code 6407).

Head Protection

  • When. Wherever there is a risk of head injury from flying or falling objects, or from electric shock and burns (Section 3381(a)).
  • Standard. Hard hats meet ANSI Z89.1 (1997, 2003 or 2009 edition) and carry permanent markings showing the manufacturer, the standard, and the class and impact type (Section 3381(b) and (d)).
  • Type. Type I helmets reduce the force of a blow to the top of the head; Type II helmets protect the top and sides (Section 3381(c)).
  • Class. Where the only hazard is falling or flying objects, Class C, E or G is acceptable. Where there is a risk of contact with conductors under 600 volts, use Class E or G. Over 600 volts, only Class E (Section 3381(c)(2)).
  • Hair. Where hair could be caught in moving machinery, it must be c

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