PPE Reference · CIH

Published September 27, 2026·Companion to the CIH Study Journal·By Kevin L., CRSP & CRST

CIH PPE Reference

In the order PPE gets chosen: why it’s last, then eye/face, head/foot/hand, chemical suits, eyewash, respirators, and hearing protection math, plus a self-test. The fact an exam question most often leans on is in red.

How to use this page

BGC’s subject areas cover PPE selection and use as part of hazard control^BGC. This page collects the standards, markings and one calculation (NRR derating) an exam question is most likely to hand you directly.

Red text is the recognition cue; yellow cards are memory tricks and traps.
Original wording, not a copy of any course text, BGC material or OSHA publication. Sources are on the CIH references page.

01 Choosing PPE in the Real Workplace

The matrix you actually face on a job site, before any single standard number matters.

This is the matrix you actually face on a real job: a hazard profile, and six PPE categories that all have to fit it together. Picking correctly means knowing the standard and the characteristics of the hazard or chemical involved — a hard hat rating doesn’t help you if you got the respirator cartridge wrong. The table below is a practical field reference, not an exam key: it mixes American (ANSI, NFPA, NIOSH), Canadian (CSA) and international (EN, ISO) standards, because that is genuinely what a real multinational job site uses. The CIH exam itself tests the American ANSI/OSHA/NIOSH numbers used in the rest of this page; the CSA and EN/ISO entries below are their real-world equivalents, included for the work itself, not for the test.

Hazard profile	Head	Eye & face	Hearing	Body & skin	Respiratory	Footwear
Heavy industrial / electrical maintenance Overhead impact, 600V+, arc flash, loud machinery	Type 1/2, Class E hard hat (CSA Z94.1 / ANSI Z89.1^OSHA; non-conductive to 20 kV)	Anti-fog safety glasses plus an arc-rated face shield (NFPA 70E / CSA Z462)	Earmuffs or earplugs rated for high attenuation (CSA Class A, or ANSI/EPA NRR 25+)	Flame-resistant coveralls (NFPA 2112 / CGSB 155.20), matched to the arc’s cal/cm² rating	None required unless fumes linger	Steel-toe boot with electric-shock-resistant sole (CSA Z195 Omega mark)
Chemical processing / washdown Corrosive splash, pressurized mist, toxic vapour, wet floors	Type 1, Class G or E hard hat, chemical-resistant shell	Indirectly vented goggles plus a full face shield (CSA Z94.3 “D3” liquid-splash mark)	Earmuffs or earplugs; fit must not break the goggle seal	Type 3/4 liquid-tight suit (EN 14605)	Tight-fitting mask, black (organic vapour) or white (acid gas) cartridge^OSHA	Steel-toe boot with a chemical-resistant outer sole (nitrile, neoprene or PVC)
Toxic dust and particulate remediation Friable asbestos, lead, silica, noise above 100 dBA	Type 1, Class G or E hard hat, smooth shell for easy decontamination	Non-vented goggles, or a full-facepiece respirator instead of separate eyewear	Dual protection: foam plugs and earmuffs worn together above 100 dBA	Type 5/6 disposable suit (ISO 13982-1, particulate-proof)	P100 (magenta) filter^OSHA, half-mask, full-face, or a PAPR at high concentrations	Steel-toe boot with disposable or waterproof covers, to avoid tracking dust out
Metal welding and hot work Sparks, molten slag, metal fume, optical radiation, noise	Welding helmet mounted on a Type 1, Class G hard hat, heat-resistant and impact-certified	Auto-darkening welding lens, shade 9–13, with safety glasses underneath	Flame-resistant earplugs, so sparks can’t melt into the ear canal	Heavy leather welding jacket or apron, or FR cotton coveralls	P100 (magenta) filter, often pancake-style to fit under the welding shield	Steel-toe boot with a leather upper (no mesh or synthetics that melt) and lace protectors
Confined space and HazMat emergency Unknown atmosphere, IDLH, oxygen deficiency, engulfment	Type 2, Class E hard hat with lateral impact protection and a chin strap	Full-face mask integrated directly into the respiratory system	Internal earplugs that don’t break the full-face respirator seal	Level A gas-tight encapsulating suit (NFPA 1991), or Level B liquid-splash suit	SCBA, or supplied air with an escape bottle^OSHA	Steel-toe boot with a puncture-resistant steel plate sole, HazMat-rated
Petroleum, refineries and warehousing Vehicle traffic, crushing, hydrocarbon spill, weather	Type 1/2, Class G or E hard hat, high-visibility striping	Safety glasses with side shields, impact-rated	Earmuffs or earplugs, sized to the local pump or compressor noise	High-visibility coveralls (CSA Z96, Class 2 or 3)	None as a baseline, unless entering a processing line	Steel-toe boot with an oil-resistant, deep-treaded nitrile sole

Real cartridge colour coding: black is organic vapour, white is acid gas, green is ammonia, and magenta is a P100 particulate filter or pre-filter^OSHA — colour is a secondary aid, never a substitute for reading the actual cartridge approval label.

The matrix has to agree with itself

A full-face respirator and separate safety goggles fight for the same space on your face. Confined-space and toxic-dust profiles above build the eye protection into the respirator for exactly that reason.

One column can force a change in another

A liquid-tight suit’s hood can break a hard hat’s fit, and a full-face respirator can break an earmuff’s seal. Selection is never one column at a time.

02 PPE Is the Last Resort

Why PPE sits at the bottom of the hierarchy, the hazard assessment that comes before it, and what training must cover.

PPE is the last line of defense^OSHA, used only once elimination, substitution, engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or do not give adequate protection on their own. Before any PPE is issued, the employer must assess the workplace for hazards^OSHA and certify in writing that the assessment was done — PPE is then matched to the specific hazard found, not handed out generically. Training has to cover when PPE is necessary, what PPE is necessary, how to don, doff, adjust and wear it, its limitations, and its care, maintenance, useful life and disposal^OSHA, and it has to be repeated whenever the workplace changes in a way that makes the old training obsolete, the PPE type changes, or a worker’s misuse shows they never had the understanding or skill in the first place^OSHA.

Last resort, not first idea

The exam trap: a scenario proposes PPE as the fix for a hazard that could be engineered out. The correct answer moves up the hierarchy first, and keeps PPE as backup.

Quick recognition: EPA/OSHA HazMat PPE Levels A–D

The exam is testing whether you can tell the four levels apart by their respiratory and skin requirements together, not either one alone.

Level A — highest of both

SCBA plus a fully encapsulating, gas-tight chemical suit: the highest respiratory and skin protection together.

Level B — highest air, lower skin

Still SCBA, but a non-encapsulating chemical-resistant suit instead of a sealed one — the respiratory protection stays top-tier while the skin protection drops.

Level C — known air, same skin as B

An air-purifying respirator (APR) or PAPR, used only when the chemical identity and concentration are known and oxygen is safe (above 19.5%). Skin protection matches Level B.

Level D — work clothes

No respiratory protection, minimal skin protection: standard work uniform, safety boots and glasses, used only where no atmospheric hazard is present.

The full comparison, side by side, is in Levels of Chemical Protective Clothing below.

03 Eye and Face Protection

ANSI Z87.1 markings, and the welding shade table exams like to test directly.

Eye and face protection must meet ANSI/ISEA Z87.1^OSHA, protecting against impact, heat, chemical splash, dust and optical radiation (far-UV 200–315 nm, near-UV 315–380 nm).

Marking	Meaning
Z87	Basic impact rating
Z87+	High-velocity impact rating
D3 / D4 / D5	Splash and droplet / dust / fine dust protection
W + shade number	Welding filter
U (2–6) / R (1.3–10) / L	UV filter scale / infrared filter scale / visible light filter
Z87-2, H, V, S	Prescription, small head size, photochromic, special tint

Welding shade selection

Process	Arc current (A)	Minimum shade
SMAW (stick)	< 60	7
	60–160	8
	160–250	10
	250–550	11
GMAW (MIG)	< 60	7
	60–250	10
	250–550	10
GTAW (TIG)	< 50	8
	50–150	8
	150–500	10

Figures are the OSHA Design Selection Guide FS-3499 minimum shades; a higher shade for comfort is always acceptable.

GTAW needs less current for the same shade

TIG welding is a more concentrated, more intense arc than stick or MIG at the same current, so it reaches shade 8 at a much lower amperage.

04 Head, Foot and Hand Protection

Helmet classes by voltage, footwear ratings, and picking a chemical-resistant glove.

Standard	Category	Meaning
Head protection (ANSI/ISEA Z89.1)^OSHA	Type I / Type II	Top impact only / top and lateral (side) impact
Head protection (ANSI/ISEA Z89.1)^OSHA	Class G / E / C	General, tested to 2,200 V / Electrical, tested to 20,000 V / Conductive, no electrical protection
Foot protection (ASTM F2413)^OSHA	—	Falling/rolling objects, sole puncture, static discharge, and electrical hazards, each rated separately

Chemical-resistant glove selection

Term	What it means
Breakthrough time	Elapsed time from initial contact to the chemical being detected on the inside of the glove
Degradation	Physical deterioration of the glove material itself (rated Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor)
Permeation rate	Mass flow rate of the chemical moving through the material once breakthrough starts

Direct comparison: breakthrough time is a clock, permeation rate is a flow.

Feature	Breakthrough time	Permeation rate
Main focus	Time elapsed before the chemical is first detected on the inside	Speed and amount of chemical flowing through the material
Unit	Minutes or hours	Mass per area per time, e.g. mg/m²/min or µg/cm²/min
Question it answers	How long am I safe?	How much exposure am I getting?

Material	Good for	Poor choice for
Butyl rubber	Organics, ketones, esters	Aliphatic/aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated solvents, gasoline
Natural (latex) rubber	Alcohols, acids, caustics, ketones	Aromatics, halogenated solvents
Neoprene	Phenols, petroleum solvents	Ketones, oxidizing acids, nitro-organics
Nitrile rubber	Solvents, oils, alcohols	Strong oxidizers and some polar solvents; check the manufacturer’s chart for the exact chemical
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)	Most solvents, aromatic and halogenated	Water and aqueous solutions — PVA dissolves in water
PVC	Alcohols, acids, caustics	Organic solvents
Viton	Halogenated and aromatic solvents, alcohols	Ketones, certain esters

Selection is always by the specific chemical, from the manufacturer’s own permeation and degradation data^OSHA — this table is a starting point for recognition, not a substitute for that chart.

PVA is the trap

PVA resists almost everything except one very common substance: water. A scenario with an aqueous solution is testing whether you catch that.

05 Levels of Chemical Protective Clothing

EPA/NIOSH Levels A through D, from full encapsulation to a coverall.

Level	Respiratory	Skin
A	SCBA, or positive-pressure supplied air with an escape cylinder	Totally encapsulating, gas-tight suit; inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves
B	Same respiratory protection as Level A (highest available)	Non-encapsulating splash suit — a lower level of skin protection
C	Air-purifying respirator (APR) or PAPR	Chemical splash clothing (same as Level B); used only when the contaminant identity and concentration are known, and oxygen is above 19.5%
D	None specified	Standard work coveralls, safety shoes, hard hat, safety glasses — minimal protection

What actually changes between A and B

A and B use the same top-tier respiratory protection (SCBA). The difference is the suit: A is gas-tight and encapsulating, B is not. Level A is chosen when the skin hazard, not only the respiratory hazard, demands full encapsulation^OSHA.

C needs a known contaminant

Level C’s air-purifying respirator only works if you know what you’re purifying against and at what concentration. Unknown atmosphere rules out Level C.

06 Emergency Eyewash and Showers

The 10-second rule, minimum flow rates, and why weekly testing matters.

Requirement	Detail
Travel time	Reachable within 10 seconds on a clear, level, unobstructed path (industry consensus is roughly 55 feet)
Emergency shower flow	Minimum 20 gallons per minute
Eyewash flow	Minimum 0.4 gallons per minute for at least 15 minutes
Testing	Plumbed units activated weekly to verify function and clear the line of sediment and stagnant water

OSHA’s own general-industry rule, 1910.151(c)^OSHA, requires “suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing” without stating these numbers itself; the specific travel time, flow rates and weekly-test interval come from the voluntary consensus standard ANSI/ISEA Z358.1, which OSHA recognizes and cites in enforcement guidance. Treat the numbers as the industry standard a CIH exam question expects, not a word-for-word OSHA regulation.

Why weekly, not just annual

An annual inspection checks the fixture works once a year. Weekly activation flushes the line so stagnant water and sediment (and the microbial growth that comes with standing water) don’t build up between real emergencies.

07 Respiratory Protection and Fit Testing

Air-purifying vs atmosphere-supplying respirators, filter classes, and how a fit test actually works.

Type	How it works
Air-purifying respirator (APR)	Filters or cartridges remove the contaminant from ambient air; does not supply oxygen, so it is prohibited in IDLH atmospheres^OSHA
Filtering facepiece classes	N (not oil resistant), R (somewhat oil resistant), P (oil proof), each rated 95%, 99% or 100% filter efficiency
PAPR	A powered blower pushes air through the filter, delivering it at positive pressure
Supplied-air respirator (SAR)	Clean breathing air delivered by a hose from a remote source
SCBA	Self-contained tank, 30–60 minutes of air; required for IDLH atmospheres

Assigned protection factors (APF)

OSHA’s assigned protection factor is the protection a properly fitted, properly used respirator class is expected to give. The maximum use concentration is the APF times the exposure limit.

Respirator type	Quarter mask	Half mask	Full facepiece	Helmet / hood	Loose-fitting facepiece
Air-purifying (APR)	5	10	50	—	—
Powered air-purifying (PAPR)	—	50	1,000	25 / 1,000¹	25
Supplied-air (SAR), demand mode	—	10	50	—	—
Supplied-air (SAR), continuous flow	—	50	1,000	25 / 1,000¹	25
Supplied-air (SAR), pressure-demand	—	50	1,000	—	—
SCBA, demand mode	—	10	50	50	—
SCBA, pressure-demand	—	—	10,000	10,000	—

¹ A PAPR or SAR with a helmet or hood has an APF of 1,000 only if the manufacturer can show testing that supports it. Without that evidence it defaults to 25. Source: OSHA Table 1 in 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A).

APF memory scale: three steps

10–50 → 50–1,000 → 10,000. APR is the bottom step (half mask 10, full facepiece 50). PAPR and supplied-air are the middle step (half mask 50, full facepiece 1,000). SCBA in pressure-demand is the top, 10,000. Inside any step, the low number is the half mask and the high number is the full facepiece. Demand mode drops a respirator to the bottom step: demand-mode supplied-air and SCBA are only 10 / 50, the same as an APR. Only continuous-flow or pressure-demand supplied-air reaches the middle step.

Fit testing

Type	Method
Qualitative (pass/fail)	The wearer’s own senses detect a challenge agent leaking in: isoamyl acetate (banana oil), saccharin solution, Bitrex, or irritant smoke
Quantitative (numeric fit factor)	Instrument-measured leakage: a generated aerosol chamber, ambient particle counting (a condensation nucleus counter), or controlled negative pressure

Qualitative relies on the wearer

A qualitative test only works if the wearer can actually taste or smell the challenge agent, which is why it can’t be used for a respirator meant for an atmosphere above the qualitative-test protection limit; that situation needs a quantitative fit test instead.

Cartridge colour code

Colour is a recognition shortcut defined by the ANSI/AIHA Z88.7 (formerly ANSI K13.1) standard, never a substitute for reading the actual NIOSH approval label on the cartridge itself.

Colour	Approved for	Common industrial examples
Black	Organic vapours (OV)	Solvents, toluene, xylene, gasoline, paint thinners
White	Acid gases (AG)	Hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride
Yellow	Organic vapours and acid gases together	Mixed chemical manufacturing, solvent stripping with an acid wash
Green	Ammonia and methylamine	Refrigeration maintenance, fertilizer handling, livestock facilities
Magenta (purple)	Particulates — P100	Asbestos, lead dust, silica, welding fume, mould spores
Olive	Organic vapour, acid gas, ammonia and methylamine together, in one cartridge	Multi-hazard chemical response where all four are present and known
Orange	Oil-resistant particulate filters below P100 (the R and P series at 95% and 99%)	Used where P100’s 99.97% efficiency isn’t required
Brown	Formaldehyde (a specialty cartridge)	Embalming, resin and adhesive manufacturing

Combination cartridges pair a chemical colour with a magenta stripe or cap for particulates: black/magenta (organic vapour + P100, e.g. spray lacquer or solvent-based adhesive), white/magenta (acid gas + P100, e.g. acid mist during tank cleaning) and yellow/magenta (organic vapour, acid gas and P100 together, for complex remediation).

Olive is not for the unknown

Even a cartridge rated for all four gases together still needs the atmosphere identified and its oxygen level confirmed first. No air-purifying cartridge, however broad, is rated for an unknown or IDLH atmosphere.

A mercury vapour hazard needs its own check

Mercury vapour is not covered by the standard black/white/yellow/green palette. It needs a specific NIOSH-approved cartridge (e.g. a mercury-vapour/chlorine combination canister) — verify the exact approval, don’t assume a colour.

Specialized chemical and particulate respirator requirements

Six hazards where a standard or NIOSH names the respirator, not just the hazard. The choice still depends on the measured concentration and the assigned protection factor^OSHA; this table shows what each standard adds on top.

Material	Type	Why it needs more than a basic respirator	Required	Not allowed
Generic carcinogens (NIOSH Appendix A)	Gas or particulate	Cancer risk with no established safe exposure level	The most protective NIOSH recommends: a full-facepiece pressure-demand (positive-pressure) SCBA, or a full-facepiece pressure-demand SAR with an auxiliary escape SCBA (APF 10,000)	No air-purifying respirator is recommended above the NIOSH REL, or at any detectable level where there is no REL. This is NIOSH guidance, not an OSHA ban.
Asbestos (OSHA 1910.1001)	Particulate (fibers)	Asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma from fibers that stay in the lung	HEPA (P100) filters on a powered or non-powered air-purifying respirator, chosen by protection factor for the measured level. A PAPR on request if it protects adequately.	Filtering facepiece respirators of any kind, N95 included. The standard says employers must not select or use them.
Formaldehyde (OSHA 1910.1048)	Gas / vapor	Eye, skin and airway irritant, and a carcinogen	Full-facepiece air-purifying respirator with a cartridge or canister approved for formaldehyde	A half-mask on its own. It is allowed only with a formaldehyde-approved cartridge and gas-proof goggles.
Ethylene oxide (EtO) (OSHA 1910.1047)	Gas	Carcinogen and mutagen that irritates and injures the eyes. Poor warning properties: the odor is noticed only far above the 1 ppm PEL.	Full-facepiece: an air-purifying type needs a front- or back-mounted canister approved for EtO. Positive-pressure full-facepiece SAR or SCBA where the concentration is unknown.	Half masks of any type, because EtO may cause eye irritation or injury
Benzene (OSHA 1910.1028)	Vapor	Blood carcinogen (leukemia), so cartridge life is tightly controlled	Organic-vapor cartridge or canister on a powered or non-powered APR (chin-style canister on a full-facepiece gas mask). Replace at end of service life or at the start of each shift, whichever comes first. Positive-pressure SCBA or SAR when the concentration is unknown.	Using a cartridge past its service life, or carrying it into the next shift. Escape respirators must be an organic-vapor gas mask or a full-facepiece SCBA.
Lead (inorganic dust) (OSHA 1910.1025)	Particulate (dust)	Heavy metal that builds up and damages the nervous system, blood and kidneys	HEPA (P100) filters on a powered or non-powered air-purifying respirator, chosen by protection factor. A PAPR if the worker chooses one and it protects adequately.	Filters that are not HEPA, such as N95 or P95-class filters

Read the verbs. “Must not” is a prohibition (asbestos: filtering facepieces; EtO: half masks). The NIOSH carcinogen entry is a recommendation, not a prohibition. For any gas or vapor cartridge, odor is not a service-life warning: change it on an end-of-service-life indicator or a data-based change schedule. EtO makes the point sharply because its smell comes far too late. Most OSHA substance standards send the choice of respirator type to 29 CFR 1910.134 and its protection factors, and add only the extras shown. Sources: 29 CFR 1910.1001(g), 1910.1025(f), 1910.1028(g), 1910.1047(g), 1910.1048(g); NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Appendix A and respirator recommendations for potential occupational carcinogens.

08 Hearing Protection and NRR Derating

The same NRR calculation as the noise chapter, worked through step by step.

The same estimate covered on the noise page, kept here because a PPE-focused question can hand you the number cold.

Step	Calculation
1. Subtract 7 from the NRR	Converts a C-weighted lab rating to an A-weighted estimate^OSHA
2. Apply the 50% safety factor	Divide by 2 — real-world fit is worse than the lab test that produced the NRR^OSHA
3. Subtract from the measured TWA	Gives the estimated protected exposure level

Worked example

Measured TWA 93 dBA, hearing protector NRR 29. Step 1: 29 − 7 = 22. Step 2: 22 ÷ 2 = 11 dB. Step 3: 93 − 11 = 82 dBA estimated protected level.

Don’t skip the 50%

Some sources apply only the −7 step for a quick adequacy check. OSHA’s method for deciding whether engineering controls are still needed applies the additional 50% factor — know which question is being asked.

09 Standards at a Glance

Who certifies the gear, who regulates its use, and the consensus standard behind each category of PPE.

Agency	Core standard	Purpose
NIOSH	42 CFR Part 84	Manufacturing and testing: certifies that the gear physically functions, filters correctly and holds up to safety tests.
OSHA	29 CFR 1910.134	Workplace regulation: requires employers to provide NIOSH-certified respirators, train employees and complete annual fit tests.

Hazard category	Standard	Title
Eye and face	ANSI/ISEA Z87.1	American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices
Head	ANSI/ISEA Z89.1	American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection
Respiratory	ANSI Z88.2	American National Standard for Respiratory Protection
Hands	ANSI/ISEA 105	American National Standard for Hand Protection Classification
Foot	ASTM F2413	Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective (Safety) Toe Cap Footwear
Emergency	ANSI/ISEA Z358.1	American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment

These standards are revised every few years, so the table names the standard rather than one edition. Recent editions include Z87.1-2025, Z89.1-2026, ANSI/ISEA 105-2024, ASTM F2413-24 and Z358.1-2014 (reaffirmed 2020). Use the edition your employer, your exam or the regulation references.

10 Self-Test

Original scenarios. Cover the answer, decide, then open it.

1A hazard assessment finds respirable silica dust. Before issuing respirators, what must the employer have already tried or ruled out?

Elimination, substitution, engineering controls (e.g. wet methods, local exhaust) and administrative controls. PPE is the last resort once those are not feasible or not sufficient.

2A worker is stick-welding (SMAW) at 180 A. What is the minimum lens shade?

Shade 10 (160-250 A range for SMAW).

3A safety data sheet shows the chemical is a strong aqueous caustic solution. Which common glove material is a poor choice despite resisting many other chemicals?

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) — it dissolves in water and aqueous solutions.

4A responder needs the highest available skin protection because the chemical is a skin-absorbed unknown, and the atmosphere may be IDLH. What level?

Level A: gas-tight encapsulating suit with SCBA.

5An eyewash station is installed one floor below the lab that stores corrosives, reachable only by stairs. Does it meet the 10-second rule?

No. The path must be clear, level and unobstructed; a flight of stairs fails, even if the straight-line distance is short.

6A worker needs a respirator for an atmosphere immediately dangerous to life or health. Which respirator type is required, and why can't an APR be used?

SCBA (or a supplied-air respirator with an escape SCBA). An APR does not supply oxygen and is not rated for IDLH atmospheres.

7Measured TWA is 100 dBA. Hearing protectors are rated NRR 25. What is the OSHA engineering-control check result?

100 − ((25 − 7) × 0.5) = 100 − 9 = 91 dBA — still above 90, so engineering or administrative controls are still needed.

These are original practice scenarios written for this page. They are not BGC questions and do not predict exam content.

Requirements from OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 through .138, .120 Appendix B and Publication 3151; the eyewash numbers reflect the ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 consensus standard OSHA references, not a direct OSHA regulation — all listed on the references page (checked September 27, 2026). SPEP is not affiliated with BGC.