PPE :- Head Protection

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment

Head Protection

Head injuries are not the most commonly reported work accident, but are by far among the most devastating. One serious blow to the head can leave an employee disabled for life.

Head injuries can be as simple as a minor bump, bruise or cut or as serious as a life long impairment or even death. Hard hats are designed to resist blows and penetration. Hard hats have an impact absorbing suspension system that puts a barrier space between your head and the shell of the hard hat.

There are some practical reasons for wearing a hard hat. They help keep your head cooler in summer; dry during rain; and helps shield your ears from noise. 

But the main reason to wear a hard hat is that it protects the control center part of your body—your head.

Head protection should be provided if: (Hazards)

• Overhead falling Objects might fall from above and strike employees on the head.
• Fixed objects over head: Employees might bump their heads against fixed objects, such as exposed pipes.
• Employees Head contact with electrical hazards or work near exposed electrical conductors.
• Swinging objects

Follow these rules of thumb. In general, protective helmets or hard hats should:

• The hard hats should be selected based on the hazards expected on the job.
• Resist penetration by objects.
• Absorb the shock of a blow.
• Be water resistant and slow burning.
• Come with instructions explaining proper adjustment and replacement of the headband.

These are the three classes: G , E & C

• (G) General use: Resists impact, penetration and low voltage electrical protection
• (E) Electrical: Resists impact, penetration and high voltage electrical protection
• (C) Conductive: Provides impact and penetration resistance only.

These are the two types:

Type I: Hard hats intended to reduce force of impact from a blow to the top of the head.
Type II: Hard hats intended to reduce force of impact to the top and sides of the head.

• Inspect your hard hat daily to assure shell and suspension systems are in good working order.
• Adjust your hard hat suspension system to fit your head properly.
• Keep your hard hat clean by using warm soapy water or the method recommended by the manufacturer. Rinse completely. Dry before use.
• Wear the hard hat in the direction that the manufacturer recommends and for which use it was designed.
• Store your hard hat out of the sun in a cool place, not the back window of a vehicle.
• Replace a hard hat if it has sustained an impact, it is damaged or if it is older than five years.

Types of head protection.

 
Each kind of protective helmet is designed to protect against specific hazards.

1. Hard hats. As their name suggests, they are made of rigid, impact-resistant, non-flammable materials. The shell is held on the head by a network of straps and harnesses, which fit over the head itself and cushion impact. Hard hats are divided into three industrial classes:
• Class A. For general service. They provide good impact protection, but limited voltage protection. They are used mainly in mining, construction, shipbuilding, lumbering and manufacturing.
• Class B. For your employees who do electrical work. They protect against falling objects and high-voltage shock and burns.
• Class C. These lightweight helmets offer comfort, but limited protection. They protect workers if they bump against fixed objects, but do not protect against falling objects or electric shock.
2. Bump caps. Do not protect against blows to the head or other serious impacts such as from falling objects. Made of lightweight plastic, these protect against minor bumps only. Bump caps should never be used in place of hard hats. Bump caps are commonly used when working in confined spaces where there are no serious head hazards.
3. Hair covers. Made of breathable, lightweight materials, are often required when working around machinery. This type of head wear is usually adjustable and may have a front visor to let employees know when they get too close to the machine. Hair covers help prevent hair from becoming caught in moving machine parts.

Although these are the most common types of protective head wear, the particular tasks your employees do may require that special safety accessories be added to the basic protector. For example, a thermal liner may be required if your employees work in extremely cold temperatures or lamp brackets may be attached if work areas are dark.

What a Hard Hat Does

• Protects you from falling objects.
• Protects your head in case of a fall or bump’s into machinery, duct work and the like.
• Protects you from electrical shocks and burns if it's a non-conductive hat.
• It is a neat place to put stickers and decals, especially first aid trained or safety committee member.

Proper Care: In order for your hard hat to take care of you, you need to care for your hat.

• Always keep your hard hat properly adjusted.
• Do not cut, bend or heat the hard hat.
• When you see deep gouges or cracks in the shell, or the hat color turns dull, its time for a new one.

Proper Wear:

• Do not wear it backwards.
• Don’t put anything inside your hard hat except your head.
• Don’t try to substitute it for a “bump cap.” The bump cap will not provide adequate protection from falling objects; just isn’t strong enough.
• It is not a stool or a step; doing so weakens the shell of the hard hat.

OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) does not specify an exact timeframe for replacing hard hats, Regulations emphasize that employers must ensure hard hats are in good condition and provide adequate protection. The general guidelines for helmet replacement are based on the manufacturer’s recommendations and the conditions in which the helmet is used.   

1. Service Life:

• Shell: Typically, the recommended lifespan of a hard hat shell is 2-5 years from the date of first use. This can vary depending on the work environment (e.g., exposure to sunlight, extreme temperatures, or chemicals).
• Suspension: The internal suspension should be replaced every 12 months or sooner if there is visible wear or damage.

2. Inspection and Replacement:

• Hard hats should be inspected before each use for any visible signs of wear, dents, cracks, holes, or any damage to the suspension system.
• Replace the hard hat immediately if there is any sign of damage, even if it's within the lifespan window.
• Exposure to UV light, chemicals, and extreme temperatures can degrade the materials faster, so hard hats used in such conditions may need to be replaced more frequently.

Key Recommendations:

• Replace every 2-5 years: Even if the helmet shows no visible damage, replace it every 2-5 years (depending on the environment and usage).
• Replace after impact: If the hard hat sustains a significant impact, it should be replaced immediately, even if no damage is visible.
• Check : Always follow manufacturer's instructions / recommendations for the helmet model being used.

General Requirement : 

OSH requires that hard hats meet the Country / Internation standard, which includes guidance on inspection, care, and replacement.

Important Note:  

The average hard hat weighs about 14 ounces. The average head weighs about 14 pounds. That’s about one ounce of protection for each pound of head. A small price to pay to protect the control center of your body.

Point to Remember: 

1. To protect your head from the impact of falling or fixed objects, wear your hard hat. 
2. Select, inspect, adjust, clean and store your hard hat as recommended by the manufacturer. 
3. Your hard hat has to be on your head to provide you with the designed protection.
4. When working on scaffolding and exposed to falling objects, a hard hat must be worn.