Head protection: impact-resistant cap & safety helmet
Head injuries belong to the most serious types of injuries in the workplace and are the most common causes of death at work. Skull or brain injuries are often the result of incorrectly placed objects, poorly secured work environments, unsuitable or insufficient PPE equipment, or are caused by other workers. Compliance with safety and health at the workplace is a basic obligation of both employees and the employer, who must properly equip employees and the workplace with appropriate PPE.
Select PPE for head protection according to the risk of the workplace
Do you know when it is suitable to wear an impact-resistant work cap (bump cap) and when a safety helmet (hard hat)? Test yourself!
Source: Skill Builder. (2017, October 17). Head protection in the workplace: Bump Cap or Hard Hat? [Video].
Did you know that protective headwear has been around for thousands of years?
The first protective headwear was part of the combat armament and dates back to 2500 BC.
It is the responsibility of each employer to carry out a workplace risk assessment and to determine the need for head protection in the workplace.
A simple rule when choosing a suitable protection is:
safety helmets are primarily designed to protect against the impact from falling objects or from collisions with obstacles or objects, so they are suitable for example in the woodworking industry, power engineering or construction
protective caps or bump caps protect against minor head injuries, abrasions and scratches, so they are suitable to use, for example, in maintenance
Standards - watch out for this
Safety helmets as well as impact-resistant caps are qualified according to standards. There are specific requirements for each standard, which must be followed when protective headwear is manufactured and tested.
You may know these numbers, but do you know what they mean?
The EN397 standard applies to ALL safety parameters of protective helmets, such as shock absorption and puncture resistance in various helmet designs.
The EN50365 standard must contain all safety parameters according to the EN397 standard, while also dealing with the electrical insulating properties of the helmet. This means that helmets compliant with this standard are designed for work in a low voltage environment where there is a risk of electric shock. In practice, the difference is that helmets designed to protect against electric shock do not feature any vents, while other helmets generally do. This means that the helmet has no openings through which the worker could be struck by an electric current and injured.
The EN12492 standard deals with product safety for mountaineers or for working at heights. In this case, the requirements of the EN397 standard must also be met as well as other requirements, such as the presence of a chin strap to prevent the helmet from falling.
The EN812 standard is the only standard that impact-resistant caps must meet. The standard regulates the basic parameters to ensure that the cap is really safe and adequately protects the worker. There are many types of work caps on the market, which in practice only differ in design - the way of sewing, the length of the shield and the like.
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Of course, there are other standards that safety helmets and caps must meet. These standards are given according to the specific requirements of the work environment and use.
Safety helmets
Safety helmets are one of the most commonly used forms of PPE. All employees working in areas where there is a risk of head injury due to impact, falling or flying objects or electric shock and burns must be protected by safety helmets. The safety helmet protects not only against head injuries, but also against injuries to the cervical vertebrae.
The energy absorption of the helmet is an important parameter that the safety helmet must meet and depends mainly on the materials used. The outer part of the helmet consists of a shell and is most often made of polyethylene, ABS plastic or fibre glass hardened with polyester resins. The shell is designed to absorb energy from the impact and distribute it evenly on the user’s head, so that the consequences of the impact are as little as possible.
There are straps inside the helmet. The space between the shell and the straps may be filled with another lining material, known as protective padding, which increases the protective function of the helmet.
The straps outline the circumference of the head at the height of the forehead and lower part of the head. They are equipped with adjustment mechanisms and ensure a stable fit of the helmet on the head. To increase workers’ comfort, the strap on the forehead can have a built-in sweat belt to absorb sweat.
Safety helmets also vary according to the method of fastening and differ from manufacturer to manufacturer - the helmet can have textile straps to attach, a chin strap that is removable or fixed, or various types of closures such as a wheel latch or a retractable latch.
White, blue and yellow are the most popular helmet colours in recent years. Customers often use different colours to distinguish employee classification, e.g. whether it is an employee, a logistics worker, a visitor, etc.
Combined work protection
Customers also choose safety helmets according to their compatibility with other PPE products. Combined work protection increases the comfort of employees in the workplace.
Safety helmets can be supplemented with various accessories, providing the employee with effective combined protection in the workplace, such as:
protective shields or goggles
lights or lamps used, for example, by miners
reflective elements, which are mainly used in logistics and transport
Do you know how to put on your helmet correctly?
- The straps passing over the top of the helmet must fit tightly to the head.
- The straps must fit tightly to the forehead and back of the neck and be adjusted to the circumference of the wearer’s head.
- If the helmet contains other safety features, such as a chin strap, this must also be adjusted.
Not many people know
that helmets can only be used for a limited period time, which of course also affects how many of them customers can keep in stock. Helmets have two important features - the lifespan and the service life. The lifespan depends mainly on the material used and is determined by the manufacturer. It is generally 5 to 7 years. The service life is usually shorter than the lifespan and is also determined by the manufacturer. This information is given on the label that can be found on each helmet.
I often come across the question of how the lifespan of the helmet is related to the its service life. Here's an example: The customer buys a helmet with a lifespan of 7 years. And then the helmet it in stock for 5 years. The manufacturer states a service life of 3 years. 5 years of storage has to be deducted from the 7 years of lifespan and we conclude that the worker can only use the helmet for a max. of 2 years. This means that the helmet is not a suitable product for long-term storage.
Impact-resistant caps
The impact-resistant safety cap is suitable for places with a low risk of head injury, such as maintenance or light industry. Its purpose is to protect the head from minor bumps or abrasions. The impact-resistant cap is an ideal protective aid in workplaces with low ceilings, sharp corners or hanging obstacles.
Impact-resistant caps are a functional and comfortable head protection solution
The upper part of the bump cap is usually made of a textile material, often in combination with a waterproof material, thanks to which it weighs less than a helmet.
The skull is protected by a thin shell on the inside of the cap. You can adjust the size of the cap, as with helmets - there is either a buckle or a latch or Velcro on the back of the cap.
The colours as well as the shape of the shields vary depending on trends or workplace requirements. Reflective elements to improve visibility are another advantage of caps. Impact-resistant caps have ventilation holes, which make the head sweat less and make the wearing of the cap more comfortable. They may also contain a sweatband to increase comfort.
A well-equipped workplace is a safe workplace
The employer is responsible for all tasks related to the selection, maintenance, inspection and training on the safe use of PPE. According to the workplace risk assessment, the appropriate type of head protection is defined: safety helmets or impact-resistant caps. You can choose according to the workplace risks, standards, material or price. It applies that saving on head protection is not worthwhile, and if the workplace requires it, equip it properly. Only a well-equipped workplace is a safe workplace.
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