Hard hats and safety helmets protect the wearer’s head from falling objects in high risk or dangerous areas of the workplace. They also protect workers who are exposed to chemical spills and electrical hazards. Hard hats and safety helmets have a hard and durable exterior which absorbs impact to the head. Some also act as an insulator to protect against electrical shocks. There also may be protective padding inside the hard hat, with an adjustable head harness to secure the helmet.
Hard hats and safety helmets can also come with attached accessories such as hearing protectors, eye protectors, face shields, neck protectors and head bands. Depending on the work environment hard hats may need to have thermal considerations, for example fire fighters.
Specialised safety helmets can also be worn by people who experience seizures or epilepsy to protect them from injury.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Hard hats and safety helmets may prevent or lessen injury for workers who are in an environment where there may be falling objects, chemical spills or electrical safety hazards.
The provision of hard hats and safety helmets in the workplace should be part of an integrated organisational approach to occupational health and safety, and should be used to complement other hazard control methods. Head protection should be provided where it is not possible for an employer to eliminate or control hazards via other control methods. Employers have a duty of care to provide workers who are at risk of head injury with proper head protection.
When considering a hard hat or safety helmet, the products listed below may be of interest:
References
4ursafety.com 2002-2006, All about head protection, 4ursafety.com, Texas, viewed 22 February 2012, http://www.hardhats.4ursafety.com/hard-hat-articles.html.
WorkCover Authority of NSW 2010, Personal protective equipment (PPE), NSW Government, Sydney, viewed 22 February 2012, http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/healthsafety/healthsafetytopics/Personalprotectiveequipment/Pages/default.aspx.
Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand 1997, AS/NZS 1801:1997: Occupational protective helmets, Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, Sydney.