When head protection is worn, fit matters. So does how helmets are secured, according to Derek McManus, marketing and events coordinator at KASK America Inc.
“Many are used to the old ways of the hard hat where they tighten the dial and call it a day,” McManus said. “Nowadays, the length of the chin strap, where the straps secure around the ears and where the ratchet rests on the back of the head are all important parts of the process of securing your head protection. Each part is designed to work synonymously with each other, so when adjusted correctly, the helmet is performing its best to provide not only safety but also comfort for the worker.”
Added Carlos Torres, global product manager – head and face protection for Bullard: “The head protection category is evolving rapidly, with the biggest shifts centered on improved impact performance, better comfort and greater compatibility.”
He noted that many manufacturers are moving away from Type I hard hats to “higher-performing” Type II designs.This transition, he said, reflects the “reality that most real-world injuries rarely come straight down – they come from all directions.”
It also raises another issue that safety pros need to keep in mind.
“As companies make the switch from hard hats to helmets, they are finding some workers’ head sizes won’t fit into a standard-sized helmet,” McManus said.
The risk?
“Some workers find ways to ‘make it work’ by modifying their head protection, which jeopardizes the safety that the helmet provides,” McManus added. His company has begun to offer larger-sized helmets to help address this issue. That way, workers “no longer need to improperly wear their field-modified head protection, and can wear something they feel confident and comfortable in.”
Regardless of the head protection selected, Torres said, “The advice is consistent: Choose protection based on real risks or applications, not just minimum standards. Stick with tested, compatible components. Replace gear before it fails and prioritize comfort, because comfortable PPE is the PPE that gets worn.”
Compiled with the assistance of the International Safety Equipment Association
Coming next month:
- Ladders/lifts
- Women’s PPE
