Every year workers are killed and many others injured as a result of head injuries. If you wear a safety helmet when there is a risk of head injury then you substantially reduce the risk of being killed or seriously hurt. There are several types of head protection described below.

1.1 Industrial Safety Helmets

These protect against falling objects or impact with fixed objects and offer limited resistance to flame.

Helmets are also available which give protection against:

• impact at high or low temperature;
• against electric shock from brief contact up to 440V ac;
• against splashes of molten metal.

1.2 Bumps Caps

Bump caps protect against bumping the head, for example walking into fixed objects for example in areas with limited headroom.

Bump caps can stop hair from getting caught in machinery and moving parts.

Bump caps do not offer adequate protection where there is a risk of falling objects or moving or suspended loads.

1.3 Transport Helmets

These protect against head injuries from falling off a motorcycle or bicycle. The PPE at Work Regulations does not cover the use of motorcycle and bicycle helmets on the road.

In off-road situations, employers should provide suitable transport helmets. For example motor cycle helmets for persons who use all-terrain vehicles. (ATV’s)

1.4 Leisure Helmets

Helmets are used for activities such as horse riding, canoeing, or climbing, which protect against the risks of that particular activity.

The following are examples of hazards or situations where head protection may be required:

• Under the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989, employers must take all reasonably practicable means to ensure that head protection is warn (except by turban wearing Sikhs) on construction sites unless there is no foreseeable risks of injury other than by accidentally stumbling or falling;
• In addition, services/schools may wish to identify other work tasks and areas, which are not covered by the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations where head protection should be worn. These should be clearly set out in writing;
• Low level fixed objects, for example, pipe work, machines or scaffolding where there is a risk of collision;
• Transport activities, hoists, lifting plant, conveyors etc where there is a risk of falling material;
• Tree felling.

The following key points should be followed for the use of head protection:

DO

• Do use an adjustable chinstrap, if fitted, to make sure the helmet does not fall off whilst you are working;
• Do clean the inside of the helmet and clean or replace sweatbands regularly;
• Do check regularly that any damage to the outside of the helmet is no more than shallow scratches or grazes and the internal harness is not damaged or deformed;
• Do throw head protection away after significant impact by a fixed or falling object. Head protection is unfit for use if the outside is deeply scratched, worn or deformed, the harness is damaged or deformed or it is beyond its useable protective life. As a general rule safety helmets should be replaced every three years;
• Do wear the helmet so that the brim is level when the head is upright.

DON’T

• Don’t wear it sloping up or down as this may significantly reduce the protection it can provide;
• Don’t wear head protection back to front. It will not protect you if you do;
• Don’t customise head protection, for example, by making your own ventilation holes, painting it, marking it or put stickers on it;
• Don’t wear a baseball-style bump cap where there is a risk of falling objects. Wear an industrial safety helmet instead.

Headteachers and Managers will, wherever there is a Foreseeable Risk of Head Injury:

• Provide employees with suitable head protection;
• Maintain and replace it whenever necessary;
• Ensure that employees wear head protection.

4.2 Employees will

• Wear head protection when instructed to do so by their employer;
• Comply with rules made by the person in control of a site;
• Take reasonable care of any head protection;
• Report the loss of or any obvious defect in the head protection.

4.3 Contractors (including self-employed persons) will

• Provide themselves with suitable head protection;
• Maintain and replace the head protection whenever necessary;
• Wear head protection when directed to do so by a person in control, or in order to comply with rules made by the person in control of a site.

The person in control of a site can make rules governing when and where head protection should be worn.

Employers, self-employed, or employees, for example, foremen who have control over other construction workers must ensure those workers wear head protection whenever there is a risk of head injury.

Under the Construction Head Protection Regulations, Sikhs wearing turbans are exempted from wearing head protection.

The following points should be followed:

• Head protection will normally be issued to individuals and will include, where necessary, a chin strap and thermal lining;
• If head protection is to be re-issued to another person it should be inspected to ensure it is serviceable and thoroughly cleaned in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions;
• Where hard hats are in communal use, one named individual should be responsible for issuing, cleaning, and maintaining the equipment and keeping a record that this has been done.

British and European Standards

All hard hats must be CE marked and be manufactured to BS (EN) 397:1995 Specification for Industrial Safety Helmets. (This European Standard specifies physical and performance requirements, methods of test and marking requirements for industrial safety helmets.)

6.2 Fit

Safety helmets are available in a range of designs and it is important that the appropriate type of helmet is provided for the work to be done.

Head protection should be of the right size for the wearer and have an easily adjustable headband, nape and chin strap if necessary.

The range of adjustment should be great enough to allow the wearing of a thermal lining if it is used in cold weather.

Safety helmets need to be as comfortable as possible. Comfort is improved by taking account of the following points:

• Provision of a flexible headband of adequate width and contoured vertically and horizontally to fit the forehead;
• An absorbent sweatband that is easy to clean or replace;
• Textile cradle straps;
• Chin straps (when fitted);
• should not cross the ears; and
• should be fitted with smooth quick release buckles which do not dig into the skin.
• should be made from non irritant materials; and
• should be capable of being stored on the hat when not in use.

6.3 Compatibility with Work to be Done

Head protection should not hinder the work being done, for example, surveyors may require a hard hat with no peak to allow unrestricted upwards vision or where work is carried out in windy conditions or involves bending down a substantial chin strap may be required.

If other personal protection equipment is required such as eye or ear protection the design must allow them to be worn in safety and comfort. Head protection with integrated face and hearing protection is available from suppliers of health and safety equipment.

The care and maintenance of hard hats is the responsibility of the user. Hard hats must be maintained in good condition. In particular, they should:

• be stored in a safe place, such as on a peg in a cupboard when not in use;
• they should not be stored in direct sunlight or excessively hot or humid conditions as over time this will weaken the shell;
• be visually inspected regularly for signs of damage or deterioration;
• have defective parts replaced if the model allows this. Parts from one model cannot usually be interchanged with another;
• have the sweatband regularly cleaned or replaced.

 

Damage to the shell of a hard hat can occur:

• when an object falls on it;
• if it is dropped or thrown; or
• if it strikes against a fixed object.

Its shock absorption and penetration resistance qualities can deteriorate rapidly due to exposure to chemical agents, heat or sunlight, or ageing.

Paint, solvent-based adhesives, or aggressive chemical cleaning agents should not be used on any hard hat.

Where names or other markings need to be applied to the helmet using adhesives, advice should be sought from the helmet manufacturer.

It has been decided that a uniform approach will be taken regarding the life span of hard hats used by County Council employees.  All hard hats will be replaced.

Either

• When the shell is damaged or it is suspected that its shock absorption or penetration resistance has deteriorated, for example, when it has received a severe impact, deep scratches are visible to a depth greater than 25% of the shell thickness, the shell has any cracks visible to the naked eye or if the harness is damaged and cannot be replaced.

Or

• Three years after the date of issue. All hard hats will be disposed of every three years; a different colour hat being selected each time in order to ensure all have been replaced.  Services are responsible for ensuring that a suitable system is in place.
• The programme for replacements will be as follows:

1 April 2009  -   31 March 2012 – WHITE

1 April 2012  -   31 March 2015 – GREEN

1 April 2015  -   31 March 2018 – RED

Thereafter the colour regime may be repeated. 

Out of date or damaged hard hats should be destroyed or collected for recycling to prevent inadvertent re-use.

Employees must:

• Inspect their head protection regularly;
• Report any loss or defects to their line manager.

Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989. Guidance on the Regulations L102 (Second Edition) HSE Books 1998 ISBN 07176 1478 6

BS (EN) 397:1995 Specification for Industrial Safety Helmets. (This European Standard specifies physical and performance requirements, methods of test and marking requirements for industrial safety helmets.)

BS (EN) 812:1998 Specification for Industrial Bump Caps