Insights
J.S. Held Releases Insights on Risks & Opportunities Expected to Impact Organizations in 2025
Read MoreIn 2021 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 68,170 head injuries with 15,730 of those injuries involving eyes. Protecting employees from potential head injuries is an important function of any safety plan or program. As this is the case, hard hats have become part of the daily “uniform” of those working at construction sites, industrial locations, manufacturing plants, and jobs sites in other industries as well.
If you have ever performed an inspection and hit your head on a beam without the protection of a hard hat, you will know the value of head protection!
It is important to note that not all hard hats are the same. They can be rated for different hazards such as electrical, extreme temperatures, or lateral impact from falls when using fall protection equipment.
In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that employers ensure that head protection is required when there are recognized hazards that may cause head injuries. Many other countries (Canada and the United Kingdom to name a couple) have similar regulatory requirements.
OSHA & Standards
Interestingly, OSHA does not “certify” any types of personal protective equipment (PPE); they rely on other organizations such as The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or, in Canada, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Both organizations accredit performance and testing standards that equipment manufacturers must meet for equipment to be certified and rated for a particular use. These certifications and ratings provide employers guidance on what type of hard hat to purchase. Testing may include:
All hard hats meeting ANSI or CSA standards will have a permanent label inside the shell that will provide information containing the type and class of hard hat and its appropriate use.
The manufacturer’s name along with the date of manufacture will also be present.
Additional features that may suit an employer are full brim for additional sun protection, slots for accessories such as lamps, high visibility markings, and ratchet suspension mechanisms for tighter fit.
Proper Hard Hat Care & Usage
Treat this life saving piece of equipment with the respect it deserves! Remember:
Even with care and attention a helmet will not remain an effective part of one’s PPE forever. Harsh conditions, as well as continuous (versus occasional) use will play a part in determining the life span of this equipment.
Discuss your specific needs with your Supervisor or The Safety Department. Wear your hard hat with pride and set a professional example to others on any site that you visit.
We would like to thank Tom Sumner and Warren J. Guillot for providing insight and expertise that greatly assisted in this research.
Tom Sumner is Director of Health and Safety for J.S. Held Global Operations. He has over 30 years of technical/safety experience in a wide range of Environmental, Health & Safety projects. Tom is experienced in the design and implementation of health and safety programs, accident investigations and safety audits for general and marine industries, as well as extensive experience in industrial hygiene, air quality/mold, health & safety training, and litigation support in environmental health and safety cases.
Tom can be reached at [email protected] or +1 504 420 1898.
Warren J. Guillot, Jr., is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) with experiences in many areas of the occupational health, safety, and environmental industry. His experiences include conducting both on-site regulatory compliance and behavior-based safety audits; reviewing, updating, and overall development of health and safety programs policies and procedures including topics such as, but not limited to isolation procedures for confined space entries, facility specific emergency response procedures, machine guarding, occupational noise, Hexavalent Chromium VI, contractor qualifications, bloodborne pathogens, Hazard Communications, and others.
Warren can be reached at [email protected] or +1 504 420 1922.
Review of the provisions of the proposed 2026 NPDES Multi-Sector Stormwater Permit, how new regulations may impact industrial facilities, and how to prepare....
A case study illustrating considerations in insuring a renovation project under a builder’s risk policy and strategies for avoiding complications after a loss....
How consulting experts and building owners benefit from USGS ShakeCast technology and how it can be used for earthquake monitoring and rapid response....