All personnel entering a confined space must don which combination of PPE and equipment?

• A. Wear a full body harness; have SCBA or SAR; lifeline attached
• B. Wear a hard hat and gloves only
• C. Wear safety glasses and hearing protection
• D. No PPE required

Answer: (A)

Entering a confined space safely hinges on having protection for both potential atmosphere hazards and the need for rescue, plus a secure way to retrieve someone if trouble arises. The best approach includes a full-body harness so a person can be positioned and restrained correctly, a lifeline attached to allow retrieval and rescue without sending someone else into the space, and a respiratory device such as an SCBA or SAR to supply air or protect against toxic or oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Together, this setup supports safe entry, continuous monitoring, and rapid rescue if needed, which is essential in permit-required confined-space operations.

The other options fall short because they omit one or more of these critical elements. A hard hat with gloves addresses impact protection but not respiratory hazards or the need for a retrievable harness system. Safety glasses and hearing protection protect vision and hearing but do not address atmospheric danger or rescue requirements. Saying no PPE is required is unsafe and incorrect for confined-space entry.