Which combination provides full head and neck protection against arc flash?

• A. Arc-rated face shield alone.
• B. Arc-rated hood with face shield.
• C. Non-arc rated hard hat.
• D. Face shield with no hood.

Answer: (B)

To protect from arc flash, you need gear that covers both the face and the neck. An arc-rated face shield alone guards the face but leaves the neck and ears exposed, so it does not provide full head and neck protection. A non-arc rated hard hat isn’t sufficient for arc flash risk, since it isn’t designed to withstand the heat and energy of an arc. A face shield with no hood similarly leaves the neck exposed.

Using an arc-rated hood with the face shield delivers complete coverage: the hood wraps around the head, neck, and surrounding skin, while the face shield protects the eyes and face. Together, they meet the protection needs for head and neck against arc flash, provided both are properly rated and used together with compatible gear.