Safety Talk - Safety Helmet

Many workplaces require the use of Hard Hats or Safety Helmets at all times when on site.

They should be used when there is a danger of falling objects striking somebody on the head or when somebody could hit their head against something.

Check local requirements for specific details or requirements.

There are times when a hard hat needs to be removed for a specific reason, below is a list of generally accepted conditions or removing a hard hat. Any other times when a hard hat is requested to be removed should be risk assessed to determine if the reasons are valid and if continued wearing of the hard hat poses a greater risk than removing it.

These are general guidelines, local rules and restrictions may be more prohibitive, please check locally before accepting these.

• Hard hats may be removed BRIEFLY to wipe your brow.
  
  
• You may also remove your hat when eating lunch or dinner in a designated eating area.
  
  
• Operators of vehicles with cabs may remove their hard hat while inside the cab.

One regular problem is with site surveyors using surveying equipment and the brim on the hart hat gets in the way of using the equipment. This can be overcome by using brimless hard hats.

In general, you must wear your hard hat so that the brim is facing forward

There may be some very limited activities requiring that the hard hat be worn backwards

To wear a hard hat backwards, you must follow these requirements:

• specific job requires that the hard hat be worn backwards
  
• suspension bracket must be reassembled so the "brow pad" remains in front
  
• hard hat must sit straight on the head
  
• hard hat must be made by a reputable manufacture that has designed the hat to allow it to be worn backwards, MSA are highly recommended.
  
• hard hat must be returned to forward position when finished with the job.

Wearing a hard hat "backwards" significantly reduces your frontal protection and should only be allowed when absolutely necessary for the job.

No.

This space is needed when the suspension absorbs the energy of an impact. Objects stored in this space may transmit forces to the head and neck resulting in serious injury

• Always use suspensions and hard hats made by the same manufacturer.
  
• Make sure the suspension and hard hat are of the same size.
  
• Your hard hat should fit securely on the head and headband must be adjusted to provide a snug fit.
• Accessories can be used with Hard Hats but they must be compatible and ideally from the same manufacturer.

• Always inspect your hard hat shell and suspension before and after use. Look for:
  
  • breakage or cracks in the shell and suspension
    
  • brittle, discolored or "chalky" plastic
    
  • loss of suspension flexibility
    
  • frayed suspension straps or stitching
    
  
  
• Never alter or modify your hard hat (ie: drilling holes in shell for ventilation). Such alterations and modifications may reduce the level of impact resistance provided.
  
• Use only mild soap and water to clean your hard hat. Solvents and other chemicals such as gasoline, MEK or kerosene may damage the shell and suspension.
  
• When damaged or subjected to impact, the hard hat suspension and shell must be replaced
  
• A hard hat has a manufacture date stamp on the underside. This should be checked and the hard hat replaced after 3 years from the manufacturing date.
  

Don't be a Hard Head - Wear your Hard Hat!

What makes me qualified to tell you about safety in the workplace?

I have been a Chartered Engineer for about 14 years and have over 20 years experience of working in a variety of industrial environments that have all included a range of high risk activities. These include Petrochem, Metal Manufacturing, Power Generation and Construction.

In that time I have promoted safe working to everybody.

For a number of years I was employed by a large American Corporation and was deemed to be the local Fall Prevention and Protection expert and introduced many new systems and methods of work.

I am now in a position where I would like to share some of the knowledge I have gained over the years.

The information in this lens is provided for information only and does not intend to replace any training that a user must receive. The author can accept no responsibility of any kind for any accident, injury, damage or loss resulting from a person or persons using this information.
This information must not be used to replace local standards, procedures and training.

Every job must be fully assessed for risk and method before any works are performed.