Are hard hats and eye protection required when employees are seated in a vehicle “near the work in progress”?
Provisions governing the use of hard hats and protective equipment for eyes for their use:
Use of hard hats and protective equipment whenever it is necessary by reason of hazards encountered in a manner capable of causing injury through physical contact. The employer is responsible for requiring the use of appropriate personal protective equipment in all operations where there is an exposure to hazardous conditions.
Typically, the cab of a vehicle will provide more protection from overhead hazards than a hard hat, therefore a hard hat would generally not be required while sitting in the cab of a vehicle. Whether eye protection would be required while in the vehicle would depend on whether the windows were open and if so, if construction operations posed a foreseeable risk of eye or face injury.
If you have any questions contact Phil Mercuris, Vice President of Safety Services at Master Builders of Iowa at 515-250-7001 or pmercuris@mbionline.com.
