Anyone who works in an industrial setting knows that hard hats are an essential part of the available safety gear. There are two types of hard hats to choose from. These are type I and type II. Type 1 hard hats protect from objects that are falling from above. They do not have any side protection from blunt force. Type II hard hats have to meet vertical and lateral penetration and impact requirements. These have a foam inner liner. That is one way that you can tell he difference between the two if your not sure.
Type I and Type II hard hats used to pertain to the rims. A type I hat had a rim that went around the whole rim, while type II meant that there was only a rim in the front. Those have now become only a feature of hard hats. Hard hats come in may shapes and styles. Everyone in the place may be wearing a hear hat, but it doesn’t meant that you can’t stand out.
There are other forms of hard hats that meet other requirements as well. A hard hat known as the class E has been tested to protect against 20,000 volts of electricity. There is a form of hard hat that is called a bump cap. It is very lightweight with simplified suspension. It has only a chinstrap. These are only used to protect against bumping and scraping of the head.
Although you will probably be working with a type I, II, or a bump cap, there are many different features within the hats you may be wearing. You can get hard hats with slots to accommodate other pieces of safety equipment including, goggles and ear muffs. This is also where you can choose whether you want a full or partial rim.
Just like with any piece of safety equipment, you will want to make sure that your hard hat fits properly. You do not one that is too lose or too tight. This can hinder their performance and threaten your safety.
There really is no guideline as to how often a hard hat should be changed. You should inspect them regularly for cracks and dents. If you end up experiencing a blow to the head or electricity, you will need to replace you hard hat. At this point, you would be unable to be guaranteed that the hat would keep you safe.
It doesn’t hurt to stick with type II hard hats. Although you may work in a place where things falling room above are the greatest threat, you never know when you may experience some sort of impact from the side. This would not be true in a place where you only need a bump cap.
Whether you need to where a type I or type II hard hat, don’t not wear one. Insurance companies, unions, OSHA, and most of all, your employer, require these. Not following these guidelines can be grounds for termination.
