Why Are Hard Hats Important?

Hard hats, also known as safety helmets, are more than just important, they are crucial for protecting workers from severe head injuries and even death while working on site. At construction sites, head injuries can occur in a range of ways, but by wearing the right kind of safety helmet, workers can prevent or reduce the severity of these injuries. Keep reading this blog for more reasons why hard hats are important.

Key Reasons Why Hard Hats Are Important

Impact Absorption

Tools and items dropped from height are a common hazard in worksites that can cause skull fractures, concussions, traumatic brain injuries and even death. The strong shell of a hard hat helps to distribute the impact of a falling item over a large area while inner headband and liner (also known as the suspension system) act as a shock absorber, keeping the shell slightly away from the head. This mechanism helps to lessen the force transferred to the brain after being struck over the head by an item, therefore significantly reducing the severity of head injuries and even saving lives!

Hard hats can also absorb the force of a worker striking their head against a fixed object like scaffolding or low-hanging beams, resisting penetration and shielding the head from injury.

Electrical Hazard Protection

Specific types of hard hat that are made from non-conductive materials like fiberglass or HDPE can also protect the wearer against electric shocks and burns. Specifically, Class G hard hats can offer low-voltage protection (up to 2,200V) and Class E hard hats can protect against high-voltage shocks (up to 20,000V).

As the shell of these electrical-rated hard hats are made from materials that do not conduct electricity, they prevent currents from passing through to the wearer’s head and body – this is what shields the wearer from electric shocks and burns. The internal suspension system of hard hats also helps to absorb the force and pressure from arc flashes, preventing direct injury.

Increased Visibility

Hard hats can also enhance visibility, helping workers to be seen by vehicle and machinery operators on site and reducing collision risks. Bright, fluorescent-coloured helmets that meet high-visibility standards can make workers easy to see during the day, while hard hats with reflective tape can create 360-degree visibility by reflecting light from headlights or other sources at night or in dim conditions. Hard hats with reflective stripes on the crown can also help workers to be seen by those above them, like crane operators, preventing injuries caused by materials being lifted and lowered on site.

Legal Compliance

Another key reason why hard hats are important is for health and safety regulation compliance. In the UK, the HSE and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992 mandate the use of hard hats in any situation where there is a risk of head injury i.e. almost all construction sites. The HSE states that if there is a risk of head injury, all workers must be provided with, and wear, suitable head protection that has been obtained from a reputable supplier.

If you need a reputable supplier to buy your next set of hard hats from, you’re in the right place! At SafetyLiftinGear, we stock a range of safety helmets from trusted suppliers like PETZL, SOVOS and Kratos. Use the button below to browse our safety helmet collection!

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If you have any questions about our range of hard hats, please get in touch with us today!