Workplace head injuries are a very serious safety concern because they can easily be fatal. Are your workers’ heads properly protected against all risks?
To be effective, OSHA says all head protection should meet five basic criteria. It must:
- Absorb the shock of a falling object
- Prevent an object from penetrating it
- Resist water
- Burn slowly
- Fit properly
Beyond that, different types of helmet may be appropriate, depending on how much protection is needed based on the hazard faced by the employees.
- Helmet Type I is the most common type of head protection. Helmet Type I protects the top of the head from impact.
- Helmet Type II protects the top and sides of the head from impact.
- Class E helmets (formerly Class B) should be worn by employees facing electrical hazards. Class E helmets have been tested to 20,000 volts.
- Class G helmets (formerly Class A) provide minimum protection against electrical hazards, as these helmets have been tested to only 2,200 volts.
- Class C helmets are classified as conductive, so should not be worn by employees working with or near electricity.
In some circumstances, “accessories” such as earmuffs or headlamps may be fitted to be worn with the protective helmet. But these must never hinder or interfere with the safety features of the head protection.
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OSHA Requirements
Under OSHA’s head protection standard (29 CFR 19101.35), you must require employees to wear protective helmets in areas where there is a risk of impact to, or penetration of, the head. Such situations include when employees are working:
- Below co-workers using tools or materials than can fall
- Around or under conveyor belts or other machinery that may cause objects to dislodge and fall
- Near objects being carried or swung
- In situations where they might bump their head, such as when working near exposed pipes or beams
If employees are working near exposed electrical conductors that may contact the head, they must wear a protective helmet that reduces the risk of electrical shock.
Protective helmets must satisfy the requirements of ANSI Z89.1-2003, ANSI Z89.1-1997, or ANSI Z89.1-1986—or be demonstrably as effective as protection that complies with one of these standards.
Inspection
Employees should be instructed to inspect their protective helmets daily (or before each use) for cracks or dents. Employees should be instructed to replace:
- A headband that’s stretched or worn
- The whole helmet if the shell is cracked, broken, or punctured
- The whole helmet if it has taken a heavy blow, even if it doesn’t show damage
Employees should also replace hard hats after 2 years when they are worn in work environments that include sunlight, chemicals, or temperature extremes. Most manufacturers mold date codes or symbols into the underside of the brim of a hard hat to indicate when it was made.
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Care for Hard Hats
Make sure employees follow these basic care rules for hard hats:
- Avoid scraping or banging protective helmets.
- Don’t toss them around.
- Clean helmets at least once a month.
- Dip helmets in hot soapy water, then scrub, rinse, and dry.
- Take out the removable sweatband and wash it periodically.
- Store helmets in a safe cool place.
- Avoid leaving helmets in the sun (for example, on the back deck of a car), which will cause them to deteriorate.
Tomorrow we”ll talk about assessing the need for PPE generally and selecting the best PPE for the hazards.
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