Which item is mandatory PPE when working aloft?

• A. PFD
• B. Safety glasses
• C. Hard hat only
• D. Steel-toed boots

Answer: (A)

When you’re working aloft, the immediate and unpreventable danger is immersion if you fall into the water, so a personal flotation device is required to keep you afloat right away. The PFD directly addresses the drowning risk, making it the most critical and universally mandated piece of PPE for over-water work. The other items—safety glasses protect eyes from debris, a hard hat guards the head from impacts, and steel-toed boots shield feet from crush injuries—are important for their specific hazards but don’t solve the drowning risk on their own, and their mandatory status can depend on the task or conditions. In practice, wear the PFD whenever you’re aloft over water, and pair it with any additional protections as the procedure requires (such as a harness and lanyard). The key is proper fit and a Coast Guard-approved device.