The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets out detailed guidelines for the head protection needed to keep workers safe from potential head injuries. The regulations call for numerous protections, but the most commonly thought of is the hard hat.
Hard hats should be worn anywhere workers could come into contact with low-hanging and falling objects, as well as electrical hazards.
The hat needs to be resistant to blows—meaning it deflects objects and can’t be penetrated by sharp items. It should also have a suspension system so that it absorbs the force of the impact instead affecting the worker’s head directly.
All hard hats should be water-resistant and slow to burn, as well as be an insulator against electrical shock.
The hat should protect the worker’s face, neck and shoulders in addition to his or her head.
ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014
In June, the American National Standards Institute approved its newest standard for industrial head protection. The last time the guideline was revised was in 2009.
The standard takes into account the types of hazards workers face and creates performance and testing requirements for hard hats. Ultimately, it creates the specifications for helmets by class and type.
Variety of Hard Hats
Not all hard hats are made alike. Some are created to face certain hazards better than others.
- Type I (top impact) hard hat is made specifically to reduce the force that goes to the top of the head after an impact.
- Type II (top and lateral impact) not only reduces the force directed to the top of the head, it absorbs force from blows to the side of the head.
- Class G (general) hats are all-purpose pieces of equipment that provide penetration protection and shock absorption, but only minimal electrical hazard protection.
- Class E (electrical) hats provide high-voltage shock protection, up to 20,000 volts.
- Class C (conductive) hats do not provide electrical hazard protection.
Hard Hat Care
These necessary pieces of equipment don’t last forever. In fact, workers should take extra precautions to ensure their hard hats maintain their structure to ensure the longest life of the hat possible.
Hard hats should never be stored in direct sunlight, and adhesives, paints and cleaning solvents should not be used on them because these things can degrade the hat’s protective qualities. Objects should never be placed between the shell of the hat and the suspension.
Workers should clean the hat with mild soap and water. They should also inspect the shell of the hat for signs of damage such as cracks, perforations or deformities, and the straps of the hat for fraying, cuts or other signs of aging.