As any industrial worker knows, a hard hat must be worn to maintain safety. When trying to find a hard hat that is for the right situation, it can get a little confusing. A hard hat is a hard ha right? In a simple world that would be the case. There are some different hat types and classes to help you find the best hard hat for you.
Helmets are split into two types. These are type 1 and type 2. The types used to pertain to the fact that type 1 hard hats had a full rim around the hard hat, while type 2 only had a short rim in the front. We then split hard hats into classes. Now type 1 means that the hat protects from objects falling and force to the top of the hat. Type 2 now means that the hard hat also has to protect from impact from the side of the hat as well.
Class E hard hats are used to decrease the impact and harm of falling objects. They also will protect you from low-voltage electrical current. These
hard hats are tested at around 2200 volts in order to be considered certified.
Class G hard hats will also protect against falling objects. The difference between these as opposed to class E, are their ability to protect you from higher voltage electricity. They ar tested at approximately 20,000 volts in order to be considered certified. You must always remember that the voltages indicated are not the voltage that indicates what the wearer is protected against.
If you know that you will not be working with electricity, you can obtain a class C hard hat. These protect against the force of falling objects, but do not protect against electricity.
Most companies that provide hard hats will have a fitting chart so that you can make sure you are buying a hat with the proper fit. This is very important. You do not want your hat too tight or too lose. Tight hard hats can cause injury if they are hit very hard. There is more of a change that your neck will be hurt because he hat has no sliding action. If the hat is too loose, it can fall off when the moment counts, or at anytime.
If you have other pieces of safety equipment such as safety glasses or earmuffs, you can get hard hats with slits to accommodate these. Do not go without a hat so that other pieces of equipment can be worn.
If you are wondering if you should replace you hard hat, there is no fast rule. They should be inspected frequently and always in good condition. Always check for splits, dents, and cracks. IF they are bad enough, you should probably replace your hard hat. Any time that there is a blow to the head or electrical shock, your hard hat will need to be replaced no matter what. After this happens, there is no ensuring the quality of your hat.
