Some hard hat tips

Safety helmets (also known as hard hats) can prevent or minimise injuries to the head and brain, protecting against falling objects or debris, impact with other objects, with some offering protection against electric shock. Most head injuries can be avoided if the proper head protection is selected, used and maintained.

HSE guidance on head protection says it should:

• be in good condition.  If it's damaged, throw it away
• fit the person wearing it and be worn properly
• not stop you wearing hearing protectors as well (when needed)
• only be obtained from a reputable supplier – there are fake hard hats on the market

Helmet Life

Helmets are intended to provide an in-use lifespan of up to 5 years from date of first use or removal from storage. Helmets will have a date of manufacture imprinted on the shell but the date of issue should be recorded by the user. As supplied, the helmet will have a data sheet (the multi-language bit that gets thrown away) advising the recommended lifespan: this is often 3 years for a cheaper standard helmet, 4 years on a mid-range model with 5 years on the more expensive.

Excessive wear and tear and use in extreme environments can considerably reduce the life span of the product.

Sometimes, a business will implement a blanket replacement schedule every 2 or 3 years, changing the colours or some other identifier to indicate when hard hats have been replaced. Be aware construction sites and UK Highways adhere to a colour scheme for different grades of staff and Network Rail has its own PPE standard.

Accessories

The range of safety helmets and attachments is now broad and users should select the type appropriate to the task such as working at height would require a chin strap, using chainsaws would require ear protection and eye protection and use of ATV suited to that task.

Importantly helmets can incorporate headsets which may include hands free blue tooth enabling users to easily communicate for example in winching type operations or for single chainsaw operators keeping in touch with machine operators on the same site.

Safety helmet user’s checklist

Below are some of the things you should check before relying on your head protection. This is not an exhaustive list.

• Is the head protection suitable for the task you are going to undertake?
• Is the date of issue marked and is the expiry date understood?
• Does the helmet fit properly?
• Has the helmet been adjusted to ensure it stays on your head?
• Have any accessories fitted to the helmet been adjusted correctly?
• Is the safety helmet free from damage such as cracks, scratches or impact strikes?
• Is the safety helmet free from chemicals and solvent-based paint?
• Has the helmet been stored correctly?