Hard Hats
When your work environment contains hazards like falling objects and unstable surfaces, the right hard hat is crucial for protecting your head. Choose from a wide selection of hard hats and safety helmets!
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Hard Hats for Construction and Industrial Work
Hard hats serve a crucial purpose in giving you an additional layer of protection from hazards that can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These kinds of injuries are disruptions in normal brain function due to bumps, blows, or jolts to your head, which can result in symptoms like headaches, trouble concentrating, memory loss, and unconsciousness.
Common causes of TBIs and head injuries include:
- Bumping into beams, boards, or other stationary objects
- Burns and electrical shocks from conductors
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Falling objects like tools or bricks
OSHA standard 1910.135(a) (1) states that workers need to wear a protective hard hat while working in areas where they could potentially suffer a head injury. For electrical workers, 1910.135(a) (2) states that hard hats designed to reduce the danger from electrical shock hazard exposure are required to be worn near electrical conductors.
What Kind of Protection Does a Hard Hat Offer?
Most hard hat shells are typically made of hard thermoplastics like high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In addition to impact protection, they also resist penetrations from falling objects and insulate against electrical shocks (if the hard hat is approved for working around electrical hazards).
Type 1 Hard Hats vs. Type 2 Hard Hats
The ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 standard for protective hard hats categorizes them into two types. Type 1 Hard Hats are the most common type of hard hat, providing protection for the crown and top of your head. In addition to top of head and crown protection, Type 2 Hard Hats offer protection for lateral blows to the front, back, and sides of the head. They also have extra insulation around the circumference, making them bulkier and heavier than Type 1 hard hats.
Additional Hard Hat Properties and Features
According to OSHA, in addition to impact and bump protection, hard hats should be water-resistant and slow to burn. Specific hard hat designs can also have features like:
- High-Visibility: Hard hats with an “HV” marking on the shell are approved for areas where hi-vis PPE is required. Hard hats can also be designed with reflective stripes for added visibility.
- Extreme Temperatures: Hard hats with the letters “HT” on the shell can provide protection at temperatures up to 140⁰ F without the integrity of the hard hat being diminished. Some hard hats include a shade at the back of the neck for added protection from the sun, while hard hat brims can provide sun and UV protection, as well. For low temperatures, hard hats with “LT” on the shell can still offer protection at temperatures as low as 22⁰ F.
Find designs that deliver the head protection you need from MSA, PIP, Radians, Jackson Safety, and more!
