Hard hats and head protection are critical in almost any industry
Whether you're a construction worker or an employee for the local transit authority, chances are you need to wear a hard hat while on the job. These tried-and-true protective coverings can save your life in a variety of situations, so it's important that you choose the right one.
There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing a hard hat. Here are a few that we at Safety Company think are particularly important:
♦ Rating: Depending on your industry, your hard hat may be more or less critical to your protection. For instance, if you work on the construction site of a skyscraper, you want to have the best, toughest hard hat there is. The rating system for hard hats, ANSI, lists two types of head protection. Type 1 protects you only from blows to the top of the head, while Type 2 will also offer protection from lateral impacts, like flying objects.
♦ Material: While plastic is universally the most common material for hard hats, there are varieties made with other compounds designed for particular industries and positions. Fiberglass hard hats will hold up better in extreme heat, so if you work with molten metal, you may want to invest in this kind of hat. The thickness and composure of the plastic should also be a factor in your purchase.
♦ Suspension: The web inside every hard hat is the crux of its protective shell. By separating your head and the plastic exterior, your noggin is protected from impacts. Without it, hard hats would be useless. It's important to have a comfortable fit, and there are two types of adjusting mechanisms for the suspension: ratchet, where the wearer twists a knob to tighten and loosen the fit, and pinlock, which is identical to the system used on baseball hats.
With these things considered, your head will be well-protected from impacts.