Jorge Castanon, Safety Consultant, FRSA Self Insurers Fund
More than two million disabling work injuries occur every year, 25 percent of which involve the head. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hard hat safety is required in work areas where objects might fall from above, where workers might bump their heads against fixed objects and if there is a possibility of accidental head contact with electrical hazards.
Like all personal protective equipment (PPE), OSHA regulations require the use of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) compliant head protection (ANSI Z89.1-2014). OSHA rule (29 C.F.R. 1926.100) states that employers must provide head protection equipment that meets or exceeds the industry consensus standard ANSI Z89.1.
Hard hat classification is referred to by their type and class. There are two types of hard hats:
■ ANSI Type I: Protects against blows to the top of the head and meets vertical impact and penetration requirements. These are used mainly in the United States.
■ NSI Type II: Protects against blows to the top and side of the head and meet both vertical and lateral impact and penetration requirements. These are more commonly used in Canada.
The three classes of head protection include:
■ Class E (electrical) provides protection to withstand 20,000 volts
■ Class G (general) provides protection to withstand 2,200 volts
■ Class C (conductive) does not provide protection from electricity
A Type 1, Class C hard hat would be the standard worn by a construction worker not exposed to electrical hazards. An electrician would more than likely wear a Type 1, Class E hard hat.
■ Do clean your hard hat as needed, using a mild soap and water solution or other solution recommended by the manufacturer
■ Do store your hard hat as recommended by the manufacturer, which means keeping it out of the direct sun (like on the back dash of your car) and out of areas with high heat (like in the car trunk) while you are off the job
■ Do inspect your hard hat shell and suspension for damage and deterioration every day before use, as well as after any event that may affect its integrity (such as being struck by a falling object or being crushed)
■ Do replace your hard hat shell or suspension when it shows any signs of damage or deterioration
■ Do not paint your hard hat; hard hat manufacturers typically forbid using paints because they can degrade the strength of the hard hat shell, making it easier to break
■ Do not use solvents to clean your hard hat; just like with paints, solvents can also degrade the strength of the hard hat shell
■ Do not alter or modify your hard hat, drilling holes and/or inserting screws in your hard hat (so you can add attachments or for any other reason) can weaken the shell of your hard hat and can also allow electrical current to pass through
■ Do not wear your hard hat backwards unless specifically approved by the hard hat manufacturer and your employer
■ Do not wear a ball cap or toboggan beneath your hard hat because doing so could interfere with the suspension and shell, which work together to reduce the force of an impact. Cold weather liners approved by the hard hat manufacturer are available.
Protecting workers from potential head injuries is an essential component of any workplace safety program, especially in the construction industry, where a head injury can be life-threatening. Hard hats, if worn properly and consistently, can protect crew members from falling or flying objects, electrical shock hazards and unintentional hard hits against fixed objects. For additional information, visit www.osha.gov or contact your local FRSA-SIF Safety Consultant.
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