Understanding The Need For Hard Hats Safety

It would be impossible to remove every hazard from the work place. The severity of injuries, however, can be minimized if workers wear suitable protective headgear. Every year unacceptable numbers of workers sustain serious head injuries due to accidents at work. Many of these injuries could be avoided if proper hard hat safety protocols were in place.

Safety Laws

Employers should have a good understanding of work place safety laws and implement these effectively throughout their organization. A failure to adhere to regulations could result in substantial fines. Death or serious injury arising from negligence may lead to criminal proceedings against employers. Responsible employers accept that they have a duty to safeguard workers.

Head Protection

There are certain situations in which protective headgear should always be worn. Hats should be worn on sites where there is a risk of head injury from falling objects and debris. Accidental collisions with fixed objects, such as overhead beams, also pose a risk. On any site where there are electrical hazards,the appropriate hats must be worn. This applies to all people on the site including visitors.

Options

Different types of helmet are required in different situations. A risk assessment of the work place should inform the choice of headgear. There are two basic types of helmet. The Type I helmet protects the crown of the head. The Type II helmet protects the crown of the head and protects against side impacts. The inclusion of additional features, such as face shields or ear defenders, is appropriate in some instances.

Head Gear

Protective helmets are also designated according to their ability to resist electric currents. Electrical class helmets, or class E as they are known, provide the greatest protection from electrical hazards. General class helmets, or class G, provide some limited protection against shocks. Hats in the conductive class,class C, provide little or no protection from electric currents.

Deterioration

Protective hats are subject to wear and tear. Most manufacturers will recommend that they be replaced every five years. If at any time cracks appear in the shell, or the shiny surface area of the shell becomes dull and scratched, replacement is advisable. A brittle shell is also an indicator that it is no longer fit for the purpose. The suspension, the straps and mounts that attach hats to heads must be renewed if any part of it becomes broken or loose or can no longer be securely fitted.

Maintenance

Workers should avoid making any modifications to their hats as doing so may compromise performance. Similarly, they should avoid using paints, solvents or harsh chemicals on hats. Hats are best stored out of direct sunlight as UV exposure causes deterioration. The straps should never be pulled back over the peak of the helmet. They should always be worn with the peak facing forwards.

All personnel should be trained in hard hat safety if the work place demands it. The safety clothing will prevent unnecessary injuries and could save lives. Employers are ultimately responsible for the welfare of employees in the work place.