10 Things to Consider When Buying bulk hard hats
Who Makes the Best Hard Hat? Well, It Depends.
The best hard hat you can get is the right one for the work you are doing.
With competitive price and timely delivery, T-Safety sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Hard hats primarily are made to protect you from impacts to your head, but there are models that also are made to protect you from electrical currents and shocks.
A hard hat is a piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) that protects your head. Hard hats reduce head injuries on the job and are made to be very durable and strong. Most modern hard hats are made of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material or an advanced type of resin.
The best hard hat for you will be determined by the kind of work you are doing. Not all hard hats are equal, however, and you should always try and get a good quality hard hat to protect yourself from head injuries. The accessories you need will also be determined by the work that you will be doing.
What Does a Hard Hat Protect Me From?
Hard Hats can shield you from dangers other than crashes and shocks. Some of these dangers consist of:
- Water damage: Hard hats are either water-proof or water-resistant, which keeps water out.
- Penetration and cuts: The cross-molded pattern used in the materials construction prevents most sharp items from piercing or slicing through the surface.
- Falling objects: Falling objects can cause an impact injury, which is less often. Hard hats are made to absorb impact and deflect it as much as possible away from your head.
- Burns: To protect your head from burns, every hard hat is comprised of a fire-resistant or fireproof material.
Recognize that not all risks may be avoided by wearing a hard hats, and that your company may have additional PPE requirements. To achieve the greatest level of safety, use all PPE available for your task, not simply a hard hat.
Who Needs to Wear Hard Hats?
Hard hats are necessary for certain jobs but not all. Your requirement to wear a hard hat will be largely influenced by the sort of work you undertake. For instance, unless there is no potential for a head injury, all construction workers must wear hard hats.
Employees are not required by OSHA to wear hard hats. However, OSHA expects employers to make the decision about whether or not their employees should wear hard hats and whether or not there is a danger of head injury at work.
Other professions that frequently demand a hard hat include some of the following:
- Electricians
- Freight handlers
- Welders
- Heavy machinery operators
- Lumberyard workers
- Warehouse workers
- Mechanics
- Archaeologists
- Miners
When Should Hard Hats Be Worn?
If there is even a remote chance that you are working in an area where something could fall and strike you in the head, you should wear a hard hat, always. Even taking off your hard hat for a minute could be potentially dangerous in certain types of workplaces. To demonstrate the importance of wearing a hard hat at all times, consider the following story:
Troy, a door installer, was working with a demolition crew to modify a passenger elevator. The concrete floor of the elevator shaft had to be removed and the basement door had to be rehung. Troy was removing debris on the first floor to an outside collection point, which required him to move through a location with two overhead swing stage scaffolds. He knew there were brick masons on the scaffolds, repairing the facade, but decided he wouldnt be there long and didnt need a hard hat. While attempting to move through this area, Troy was struck in the head by a falling brick, fracturing his skull. Although he was rushed to the hospital right away, he would end up dying from a traumatic brain injury later that day.
Troy was not wearing a hard hat in this incident. Had he been wearing one, he may have suffered a concussion at the very worst. Troy was aware that he was working somewhere with overhead hazards, and yet had decided to not wear a hard hat.
When a hard hat should be worn is an easy question to answer: always. Only if there is absolutely no chance of overhead hazards should you not wear a hard hat.
What Are Hard Hats made of?
The very first hard hats in the United States were made of leather in the late s leading into the early s. During World War I, many soldiers wore steel helmets, which sparked the idea of metal helmets that could be used to improve industry safety. This started the production of metal hard hats in the s up until the s.
From there the material would change over the next decade to a Bakelite/resin composite material and then to fiberglass. In the s, most hard hats were generally made from molded thermoplastic. This significantly reduced both the weight and the cost of hard hats, without compromising their ability to protect the wearers head.
Some hard hats today are still made of fiberglass or molded thermoplastics. But most modern hard hats are made from non-conductive, high-density polyethylene. It isnt uncommon, however, to see hard hats made of different materials as well.
What Styles of Hard Hats Are There?
There are several different types of hard hats available. Hard hats come in a variety of designs and are used for various tasks. Depending on the task you are performing, numerous accessories that come with hard hats offer additional protection. Here, well talk about some of the most popular hard hat variations and the functions they each have.
Brim Hard Hat
A hard hat with a brim on the front, as the name indicates, is referred to as one with a brim. This protrudes just enough to give the wearer a tiny bit of eye protection. These hard hats are perfect for outdoor jobs where there is a significant likelihood of sun exposure.
Full-Brim Hard Hat
Similar to a brim hat, a full-brim hat has a brim that wraps completely around the hard hat. Full-brim hard hats are more suited to deflecting rain away from the head and face than only shielding the user from the sun.
Cap Style Hard Hat
These hard hats are similar to hard hats with brims, but the brim is often longer and offers additional facial protection. They feature an appearance that is quite similar to a baseball cap or other hats with a lengthy visor on the front.
Ventilated Hard Hats
To let air in and keep your head cool while working, these hard hats contain vents on the sides near the brim. If youre working outside in hot weather, they are quite wonderful. These hard hats are frequently used by construction workers who perform their work in locations free from electrical risks.
There are many different types of suspension systems used with hard hats for adjusting to the wearers head size and for making the hard hat more comfortable. The suspension is also responsible for creating a gap between the outer shell of the hard hat and the wearers head. This way when it takes an impact, the shell absorbs most of the force and eliminates or reduces the amount of force that the wearers head takes.
The suspension system is adjusted at the nape strap, a part of the system located above the nape of the neck at the back of the head. The three most common systems are:
- Ratchet(Fas-Trac): This suspension system adjusts by twisting a knob on the back to tighten and loosen itself.
- Pin lock: This suspension system has a track with a pin that you lift, move the track where you want it, then drop the pin in place to hold the track where you want it.
- 1-touch: This suspension system is adjusted by holding a button on the track, moving the track where you want it, then releasing the button so it locks in place.
The suspension system is the same for creating the gap between the outer shell and the wearers head, but the suspension system can vary in how it adjusts. It is all a matter of personal preference and doesnt necessarily make a difference in how effective the hard hat is.
Hard Hat Accessories
There are many accessories that can be included or attached to hard hats to provide you with additional protection against workplace hazards. Some examples of these accessories include:
- Hearing protection: These are used for employees that work in an environment with loud or repetitive noises.
- Face shields: There are heavy face shields used primarily by welders but also more lightweight face shields used by employees that risk exposure to chemical splashes.
- Headlights: These are typically used by employees that have to work in dark areas, such as miners.
- Neck shades: These are used mostly by outdoor workers to protect the neck and sides of the head from exposure to the sun.
- Mirrors: This uncommon accessory can help increase the wearers field of view.
- Chin straps: These are more common on certain models of hard hats and help hold the hard hat in place on the wearers head.
- Padding: For cold weather conditions, some hard hats have padding inside to keep the wearers head warm.
- Visors: If your hard hat is not a cap style or brim style hard hat, there are attachable visors to protect your face from the shade.
Can I Wear a Bump Cap Instead of a Hard Hat?
Bump caps are not approved by the American National Standard Institute (ANSI). Because OSHA relies on the standards of ANSI regarding head protection, OSHA does not count a bump cap as a hard hat. Bump caps simply do not offer sufficient protection employees need from falling objects and can only protect employees heads from minor impacts.
How to Wear a Hard Hat
Hard hats usually have suspension straps that help you adjust the hard hat to fit snugly on your head. A well-fitting hard hat does not blind, slip, or fall off. Be sure that there is proper space between the shell and the suspension straps. This is to provide ventilation and impact distribution.
After purchasing a hard hat, ensure that it is comfortable, fits properly, and does not irritate your skin. There are different thickness options and material options for suspension straps, so find what works best for you when choosing a hard hat.
Am I Required to Wear My Hard Hat a Certain Way?
OSHA only asks that employees wear hard hats when there is danger of head injury in their workplace. OSHA does not regulate how you wear your hard hat. Some employees like to wear the hard hat backwards. Some hard hats can be worn backwards while others cannot.
Certain brim and cap style hats can be worn backwards to protect your neck from the shade, but then expose your face. It all comes down to preference, but there is no requirement for how you need to wear it unless your employer says otherwise.
Know however, that some hard hats cannot be worn more than one way and these hard hats should not be worn another way. If it can be worn backwards, it will have a reverse donning arrow and wearing instructions from the manufacturer.
Classification of Hard Hats
ANSI separates hard hats into different classes rated for protection against electrical hazards. They are as follows:
- Class C: Class C hard hats do not offer any electrical protection and are even conductive to electricity, making them dangerous for workplaces that could possibly face electrical hazards.
- Class G: Class G hard hats are rated for a minimal amount of electrical protection up to 2,200 volts to be exact. They are ideal for workplaces that could face electrical hazards but generally do not.
- Class E: Class E hard hats are rated for up to 20,000 volts of electricity, making them the most ideal for working with electricity. They are essential for workplaces that are certain to face electric hazards.
There are also two types of hard hats that classify what kind of impacts they are rated for.
- Type I: These hard hats offer protection from vertical impacts and penetration. They are most commonly used in the United States.
- Type II: These hard hats offer protection from both vertical and lateral impacts and penetration. They are most commonly used in Europe.
Colors of Hard Hats
OSHA does not regulate the colors of hard hats or their designation. However, the colors of hard hats can be significant, especially in the construction industry. In certain work environments, they can designate what role the person wearing them has in the workplace. The colors and their meanings are:
- White or Black: White or black hard hats are usually worn by supervisors, foremen, and engineers. Less commonly, they are worn by vehicle operators and competent persons.
- Yellow: Yellow is to be worn by general workers and earth movers; it is the most common hard hat color to see on a construction site.
- Green: Green is for safety inspectors and sometimes is worn to designate new workers.
- Blue: Blue is for specialists on the construction site, such as carpenters, electricians, temporary workers, and subcontractors.
- Brown: Brown is worn by any worker that does hot work on a construction site, such as welders.
- Orange: Orange is usually intended for signallers and slingers on site, but is less common to see.
You should wear the right color hard hat for your role in the workplace unless your employer has determined that color coding with hard hats to be unnecessary.
Can Class G and Class E Hard Hats Be Ventilated?
Unfortunately, ventilation on class G and class E hard hats would be counterproductive in preventing electrical shocks to the head. There are no class G or class E hard hats that are ventilated for this reason. The only class of ventilated hard hats that are available for OSHA-aligned use are class C hard hats.
What is the Best Hard Hat for Me?
The hard hat that is most appropriate for the task you do is the ideal hard hat for you. As was already mentioned, not all hard hats are approved for use when working with electricity. Others dont, while some feature brims to shield your face from the sun. When searching for the ideal hard hat , options like these should be taken into account.
As a general rule, construction workers wear Class G hard hats since the task may expose them to electrical hazards. Of course, electricians wear Class E hard hats . When choosing a hard hat (and accessories), consider the risks and/or environmental conditions you could be exposed to.
Top Recommended Hard Hats
Many of these hard hats that fall under the top rated and recommended are the best for certain jobs or industries. This means that one hard hat is not necessarily better than another, but might be better for a certain employee or profession that requires a hard hat for the specific type of work.
- Overall best quality and reliability: PYRAMEX Ridgeline Full Brim Hard Hat, 4-Point Ratchet Suspension, Matte Black Graphite Pattern
- Best cap style hard hat: DAX Cap Style Safety Hard Hat (Matte Real Carbon Fiber)
- Best hard hat with a light: Klein Tools Hard Hat, Light, Vented Full Brim Style
- Most comfortable hard hat: Lift Safety HDF-15NG DAX Hard Hat
- Best class C hard hat: Evolution Deluxe 280-EV-10V Full Brim Hard Hat
- Best hard hat for the price: Pyramex Ridgeline Cap Style Hard Hat, 4-Point Ratchet Suspension, White
Which Material is the Best for Hard Hats?
Any material that fits ANSI standards for hard hats is acceptable. There are many different materials that can be used, all of which can affect the cost. However, understanding which materials typically fall under which class of hard hat is important in determining which hard hat is best for you.
- Aluminum hard hats are metal, making them one of the heaviest options and the most conductive class C hard hats.
- Carbon fiber hard hats are lightweight, fairly priced, and offer class C protection, meaning they do not provide protection from electrical hazards.
- Fiberglass hard hats are lightweight and usually offer class G protection, meaning they somewhat protect you from electrical hazards.
- Resin hard hats are rare, but most usually, hard hats will be made primarily of something else and then coated with resin. This is because the resin is electric resistant and can provide class G and sometimes class E protection.
- ABS plastic hard hats are durable, cheaper options that offer class C, G, or E protection, depending on where you buy them from.
- High-density polyethylene is one of the best options for Class E hard hats because they are an organic material that has very low conductivity and is reasonably priced.
- Kevlar hard hats are expensive, rare, and bullet-proof. They are very durable and are usually made with carbon fiber to reduce the weight. The problem is they only come in class C, making them not ideal for working with electrical hazards.
A few companies have started using carbon fiber and Kevlar as their main composite for their hard hats. These hard hats are ANSI aligned and made with aerospace-grade carbon fiber and Kevlar. Learn more about thisnew hard hat tech.
How Much Do Hard Hats Cost?
On average, type 1 hard hats cost around $30 each. Type 2 hard hats tend to cost more, around $50 each. There are more expensive models and cheaper models of both types, but quality is what matters most. A more expensive hard hat does not always mean a higher quality or stronger impact-rated hard hat.
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Usually, a hard hat may be more expensive because it comes with certain accessories or comes in a special design or color. Hard hats with face shields built for welders, for example, will be significantly more expensive than traditional construction hard hats.
Hard hats material can also affect the cost. For example, kevlar and carbon fiber hard hats tend to be more expensive than ABS and resin coated hard hats.
Where Should I Buy Hard Hats From?
It doesnt matter much where you buy your hard hat from, so long as it meets the ANSI/OSHA Requirements needed for your workplace. Different sellers will have different prices and options, so you dont have to settle for something less than what you need. There are many viable options from popular online retailers like Amazon, and also from local businesses like Harbor Freight.
Buying them directly from the manufacturer is not a bad idea, but will not make a difference in how much you pay unless you plan on buying them in bulk.
Hard Hat Inspections
It is important to keep your hard hat clean and inspect your hard hat prior to work everyday. Look for cracks, holes, tears in suspension, and UV damage. Always store your hard hat away from the sun, since extreme heat and sunlight can damage it overtime.
When Should I Replace My Hard Hat?
Even if there is no sign of damage on your hard hat, you should replace it immediately after it sustains an impact from any object. Dispose of that hard hat and get a new one before continuing work. Any small crack or break in the hard hat, whether visible or not, can compromise the integrity of the hard hat. This means that if it sustains another impact, it is possible it will not protect you sufficiently.
Another good way to tell that your hard hat should be replaced is if it loses its glossy texture. This is a clear indication of UV damage. You should also replace your hard hat as soon as it expires. It is possible that the suspension straps on your hard hat wear out or break. Although this may not seem to compromise the surface of the hard hat itself, it is equally important. The suspension straps help keep the hard hat in place on your head and absorb impacts.
If the hard hat cannot fit and sit on your head correctly, it cannot be suitable for use and should be replaced. Suspensions should be inspected and replaced every 12 months. Using an expired hard hat could compromise your safety.
Do Hard Hats Expire?
Hard Hats dont technically expire, but as a rule of thumb, any hard hat that goes undamaged should still be replaced every five years. This means regardless of how they look or how little wear they may have, they should be replaced five years after the manufacture date.
To check and see when the hat was manufactured, flip your hat over and look on the inside. Usually, a stamped date will be on the brim, but its possible that it will be elsewhere on the inside. The stamp looks like a circular pattern of numbers. The number in the middle is the year of manufacture, and the arrow in the middle will point to the number that is the month of the year it was manufactured. The other numbers are the serial number of the hard hat and can be ignored.
Can I Modify My Hard Hat?
Modifying your hard hat is never acceptable. Many employees like to drill holes for ventilation or engrave designs on the surface of their hard hats, but this compromises the integrity of the hard hat. Any modification that punctures or in some way damages the hard hat makes it unsuitable for use and must be replaced.
The only modifications that are acceptable are cosmetic ones, although OSHA generally frowns upon this. Some employees like to add stickers to or paint their hard hats, which is only acceptable so long as the manufacturer of the hard hat has authorized it.
OSHA has these standards regarding cosmetic alterations of hard hats because painting the surface of a hard hat or putting labels on it could potentially eliminate its electrical resistance. Also, adding stickers or labels could hide cracks and wear that will deem a hard hat unsafe for use.
Everything You Need to Know About Hard Hats
*Disclaimer*
The information contained on this page is for promotional and informational purposes only. All equipment should be used by trained professional tradesmen who have been trained how to use the equipment described on this page, and understand the risks of their work. PowerPak assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the use or misuse of any product purchased. In no event shall PowerPak be liable for any direct, special, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other torts, arising out of or in connection with the use of this information or the contents of this page. PowerPak reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents on this page at any time without prior notice.
There isnt much you can say about hard hats that every construction worker doesnt already know. You put it on your head and if it does its job, you get to go home at the end of the day, unharmed.
Honestly, thats all you really NEED to know. If you always wear your hard hat when you are supposed to, youre doing great.
But if you are interested in learning if you have the right kind of head protection, when and where are hard hats required, or what exactly do they protect you from, you should keep reading. We are going to do our best to answer all of those question and more.
What are they?
Hard hats are helmets designed for work environments such as manufacturing, industrial and construction sites to protect the head from injury. The outside shells are usually made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or a polycarbonate resin as they are strong, easy to mold, lightweight, and do not conduct electricity. The shell is rigid, and its main purpose is to deflect blows to the head.
They come with a suspension system made of woven nylon webbing strips and bands of nylon, vinyl, or molded HDPE. The suspension system and the internal foam lining serve as a shock absorber and an insulator against electrical shocks. Some helmets also feature a shield for your face and neck to prevent contact with any harmful materials.
When are Hard Hats Required?
There are a couple of different ways to answer this question. Most employers want to avoid fines and need to know what OSHA requires.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules state that hard hats must be used whenever there is a possibility of head injury from impact and penetration, or from falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns.
Thats a fairly broad statement and doesnt really clear up the specifics of what OSHA expects. In Bret Barnard wrote a letter to OSHAs Directorate of Construction (Russell Swanson), asking for clarifications for his specific work conditions.
Bret explained that his roofing workers wear hard hats to get on and off the roof, but while on the roof, they remove the hard hats because none of the OSHA defined risks are present.
Mr. Swanson agreed that the workers were NOT in violation of OSHA regulations 29 CFR .100. Which is surprising, considering these workers are on an active jobsite and are not wearing head protection.
Head protection related OSHA violations come down to decisions based on a hazard assessment. If an adequate hazard or risk assessment has been made the resulting decisions are difficult to fine.
BUT the OSHA regulation is only one part of hard hat requirements. If youre familiar with the term My house, my rules, you know whats coming up.
Employer hard hat requirements are often much stricter than the OSHA requirements. In the example with Mr. Barnard and his roofers, the roofers were not in violation of the OSHA regulation, but they were in violation of the GCs jobsite policy.
There are a number of reasons why an employer would implement a stricter policy, and those reasons could include insurance requirements, regulations set by local government or property owners, or simply from past experiences.
Examples of some industries that youll often expect to wear head protection include:
- Construction
- Mining
- Oil and gas
- Utilities
- Cutting and logging
- Freight handlers
- Sometimes in Manufacturing and packaging
Hard Hats Prevent Injuries and Save Lives
The story goes as follows, in a San Francisco company, E.D. Bullard Company, now known as Bullard, modified doughboy army helmets to fit the function of protecting mine workers from falling debris. It worked, and it worked so well that a decade later, hard hats were required PPE during the construction of the Golden Gate bridge to protect workers from falling rivets. Again, it worked, saving lives, and preventing unnecessary injury.
That was over 100 years ago, and although the design and technology behind hard hats have developed, the basic idea is the same. The main reason for wearing hard hats is to protect yourself from head or brain injuries which can cause concussions and have long-term effects on your physical and mental health. In the worst-case scenario, traumatic brain injuries can even lead to nerve damage, paralysis, or death.
Workers that choose not to wear head protection often do so supported by the thought, What are the chances. Well, if you work in construction, the risk is high. Even with regulations in place nearly workers died in . When it comes to head injuries, the goal is to avoid TBI (traumatic brain injuries), which have a high probability of resulting in death or severe disabilities. TBIs can be caused by object falling on you from above, walking into objects and other side impact occurrences, or tripping and falling causing head injuries. In many cases, the use of head protection would prevent serious head injury in any of these hazards.
Training
Employers are responsible for providing their employees with hard hats that comply with the job requirements and provide sufficient protection considering the nature of work. It is also the employers responsibility to train their workers to use and maintain their hard hats. Typically, the training should include:
- The purpose of hard hats
- The hazards hard hats protect from
- Functioning of the hard hat
- Limitations of hard hats
- When hard hats must be worn
- Proper usage of hard hats, including the right way to wear one
- Adjusting the fit of hard hats for comfort
- Proper storage for hard hats
- Identifying signs of wear or damage
- Hard hat cleanliness and maintenance
How To Wear Hard Hats Properly for Maximum Head Protection
- If you wish to wear any clothing item under your hard hat, make sure it is a specially designed hard hat liner and not just any other material, so it does not affect the functionality of your hard hat.
- The bill of the hard hat should point towards the front of your head. If the cap is worn backwards, it compromises the effectiveness and fit, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer (reverse donning hard hats).
- Adjust the harness to ensure it always has complete contact with your head while being comfortable
- Ensure any attachments such as lights are compatible with the model of the hard hat.
- Read the instructions carefully regarding helmet use, and in case of any questions or concerns, contact the manufacturer.
To get the most protection from your hard hat, you must ensure it is worn properly. The first thing to look out for is the fit; there should be enough room between the shell and suspension system for proper ventilation, while the helmet should not be too big or too small. Once you have the size right, you can follow the instructions below to learn how to wear your hard hat.
- Type I is used for the general industrial trade, such as construction and factories. This helmet protects the top of the head from direct impact and is commonly used in the United States
- Type II is used in workplaces exposed to constant high heat, such as steel and glass manufacturing. This type offers protection to the top and sides of the head from off-center impact and is more commonly used in Europe
Types of hard hats
Hard hats are also divided into types and classes depending on the degree of impact and protection from electrical hazards. There are two types of hard hats which are defined by the area of the head that is protected.
Another type of helmet known as Type III is also available, which protects the head and is used in bushfire fighting by emergency personnel.
These hard hats are also divided into three classes, each categorized according to the degree of electrical protection they offer:
- Class G (General) hard hats provide electrical protection up to 2,200 volts
- Class E (Electrical) hard hats provide electrical protection up to 20,000 volts
- Class C (Conductive) hard hats do not offer any electrical protection
Additional features and attachments of accessories can also provide greater protection, such as a hard hat face shield, noise-canceling gear, respirator, or work lamp. Other beneficial features can include color coding, which can provide a safer environment at any worksite.
How to Take Care of Your Hard Hat
Regular maintenance can increase the life of your hard hat by helping you identify and mitigate any signs of damage to ensure you are always protected.
- Proper storage can lead to an extended life span so make sure you keep your hard hat in a cool and dry environment. Keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid UV damage.
- OSHA allows hard hat stickers, but you should avoid exposure to chemicals like paints and adhesives not formulated for hard hats, which can cause the shell to crack.
- Clean your hard hat before you wear it. Use mild soap and warm water to rinse, and let it air dry.
- Always inspect the hats shell. If the shell looks chalky and loses its shiny finish, its time to replace it.
- Replace the harness every year.
- Replace the hard hat per the manufactures recommendation (3-5 years), and replace the hard hat if it has been involved an impact or fall, even if it doesnt show signs of damage.
If the helmets structural integrity has been damaged, you need to replace the hat immediately. However, even if you take excellent care of your hard hat, the material deteriorates over time and must be replaced every three years.
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