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Find the Right Head Protection
Head protection is an important piece of personal protective equipment. Ensuring that you have the right protection for the job is an integral part of improving job site safety. There are many factors that you should consider when choosing the head protection for your job:
Protection Purpose
Material
Class/Grade
Flammability
Water Resistance
Penetration Resistance
Durability
Accessories and Attachments
Safety Helmets vs Hard Hats vs Bump Caps
Not all headgear is made equal. The first thing you should take into account is the purpose of the headgear. Bump caps are for low-risk situations to protect the wearer from minor injuries like bumps, lacerations, and abrasions. Hardhats are typically worn to protect from falling debris, like at a construction site. Safety Helmets are another step up in head protection, in which it protects the wearer not only from falling debris but also protects the front, back, and sides of the head as well.
Abolox Safety has a wide range of protection for your head which you can find here.
Pick the Right Head Protection Class/Grade
Just like the purpose matters, the class or grade of a safety helmet is determinate of which head protection to choose. There are three classes of hard hats: Class G, Class E, and Class C. Any hat that you choose should be ANSI approved.
Class G
(ANSI CLASS A)
Class G refers to hard hats that are general use, protecting from impact and penetration along with limited voltage protection (up to 2,200 volts). Class G is referred to as Class A in the ANSI Z89.1-1986.
CLASS E
(ANSI CLASS B)
Class E (Class B in ANSI) is for Electrical, providing the highest protection against electrical hazards, high-voltage shock, and burn protection while still providing impact and penetration protection.
Class C
(ANSI CLASS C)
Class C is generally lightweight, and provides protection from impacts with no protection from electrical hazards. There are two types of protective hats: 1 and 2. Type 1 is full brim helmets and hats, Type 2 is brimless.
Materials of a Good Hard Hat
Your hard hat should be made of water-resistant and slow-burning materials. It should consist of a shell and a suspension system. Most hard hats are made from HDPE (high-density polyethylene) or advanced engineered resins.
Head Protection Accessories and Attachments
Accessories and attachments are always a good thing to look for when deciding on which hard hat to use. The ability to adjust the headgear to extreme heat or cold is a big factor when working in harsh weather conditions. Accessories such as faces shields, neck shades, and sweatbands that can be attached to the helmet are available here.
In Conclusion
To determine the best head protection you need to look at the class of the product, the materials, purpose, and accessories. From there you can go further into your selection by choosing a trusted brand such as Radians and DeWalt. If you’re ready to get the right head protection for your job site,
reach out today.