Hard Hats – Why it is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment

Millions of hard hats are worn every day. In fact the hard hat is one of the most recognizable pieces of safety equipment in the industrial workplace. It is also one of the most important pieces of safety equipment.

Why is it so important? Well, it protects the brain!

Hard hats are commonly used in many types of workplaces to protect employees from head trauma caused by falling objects, electrical hazards or accidentally falling and striking their head against an object.

There are different types of hard hats; however all of them reduce the force of impact resulting from a blow to the head. Visit L&A Safety's website or pop into one of the stores to browse through the wide range of safety equipment, including high-quality hard hats.

The outer portion of the hard hat is the shell, which often has a peak that extends forward or a brim that extends outward around the entire lower shell. The second component is the harness, which attaches to the shell to maintain the hard hat on the wearers head. When a force strikes a properly fitted hard hat, the force is distributed throughout the entire hat. This prevents the force from concentrating all at one point.

Always inspect a hard hat when it is new and first put into use, prior to each days use and after an incident has happened. When inspecting a new hard hat, ensure that it is the proper hat for the job and make sure all parts are included.

When expecting your hard hat before you use it, look for gouges; cracks; deterioration; chalking or discolouration; flaking; suspension properly attached to the shell; all straps in good condition; cleanliness; suspension and the shell. If your hard hat is damaged, the entire hat needs to be replaced!

The hard hat is so important because it is specifically designed to individually protect an employee’s when all other methods of protection cannot.