| Employers have basic duties concerning the | | | | activities. |
| provision and use of personal protective | | | | Examples of hazards or situations where head |
| equipment (PPE) at work. | | | | protection may be required are:a)Low-level fixed |
| PPE is defined in HSE Regulations as 'all equipment | | | | objects, for example pipework, machines or |
| (including clothing affording protection against the | | | | scaffolding where there is the chance of |
| weather) which is intended to be worn or held by | | | | collision;b)Transport activities, hoists, lifting plant, |
| a person at work and which protects him against | | | | conveyors etc involving the danger of falling |
| one or more risks to his health or safety', eg | | | | material;c)Tree felling;d)Blasting work, for example |
| safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, | | | | in quarries, opencast mining and such;e)Under the |
| high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety | | | | Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989, |
| harnesses. | | | | employers must take all reasonably practicable |
| This article specifically looks at PPE and head | | | | measures to ensure that appropriate head |
| protection. | | | | protection is worn (except by turban-wearing |
| There are several types of head protection. | | | | Sikhs) on construction sites unless there is no |
| Industrial Safety Helmets - These protect against | | | | anticipated risk of head injury other than by |
| falling or flying objects or impact with fixed | | | | falling;f)Under the Docks Regulations 1988, suitable |
| objects and offer some resistance to flame. | | | | safety helmets must be worn by those working |
| Helmets are also available which give protection | | | | in docks premises where there is a foreseeable |
| against impact at high or low temperatures, | | | | risk of injury to the head and employees must |
| against electrical shock from brief contact up to | | | | wear the helmets in a proper manner when |
| 440 Vac and against molten metal splash.In terms | | | | working there. |
| of chemical splash a CoSHH Assessment should | | | | Key Points |
| be considered. | | | | The key points to note for head protection |
| Bump Caps - These protect against banging the | | | | are:a)Use an adjustable chinstrap to make sure |
| head (eg walking into a fixed object) and scalping, | | | | the helmet does not slip off.b)Clean the inside of |
| and can stop hair getting caught up in machinery | | | | the helmet and clean or replace sweatbands |
| and moving parts. Bump caps do not offer | | | | frequently. Any chemicals used for doing this |
| sufficient protection where there is a risk of falling | | | | should be CoSHH Assessed.c)Check regularly that |
| objects or moving or suspended loads. | | | | any damage to the outside is no more than |
| Firefighters' Helmets - These are similar to | | | | shallow scratches or grazes and that the internal |
| industrial safety helmets, but cover more of the | | | | harness is not damaged or deformed.d)Throw |
| head and give greater protection against impact, | | | | head protection away after significant impact by a |
| heat and flame. | | | | fixed or falling object. Head protection is unfit for |
| Transport Helmets - Protect against head injuries | | | | use if the outside is deeply scratched, worn or |
| from falling off a motorcycle or bicycle. The PPE | | | | deformed, the harness is damaged or deformed |
| at Work Regulations do not cover the provision | | | | or it is beyond its usable or protective life.e)Wear |
| of motorcycle and bicycle helmets on the road. | | | | the helmet so that the brim is level when the |
| Motorcycle crash helmets are a legal requirement | | | | head is upright. Do not wear it sloping up or down |
| for motorcyclists under road traffic legislation. | | | | as this may drastically reduce the protection it |
| However, in off-road situations, employers should | | | | can provide.f)Do not wear head protection back |
| provide suitable transport helmets, for example | | | | to front - this will not give any protection.g)Do not |
| motorcycle helmets for farm workers who use | | | | customise head protection, eg make your own |
| all-terrain vehicles. | | | | ventilation holes, paint, mark or put stickers on |
| Leisure Helmets - These helmets are used when | | | | it.h)Do not wear a baseball-style bump cap where |
| horse riding, canoeing or climbing, and they | | | | there is a risk of falling objects - wear an industrial |
| protect against the risks associated with those | | | | safety helmet instead. |