Essentials on Hard Hats

When working at construction sites and otherPolyethylene).
workplace surroundings, helmets, better known asThe HDPE used for making the hard hat ensures
hard hats, provide protection to the head fromthat it is as lightweight as possible while providing
debris, bad weather and falling objects. Accordingmaximum protection to the head. They have to
to a number of tests, a hard hat can take theundergo stringent quality tests to make sure that
impact of an 8-pound object that is released frommeet necessary safety standards. The types
a height of five feet. It is an indispensable piece ofused by workers provide a characteristic profile -
gear and mandatory for people that work withone that can be identified in peripheral vision.
earth moving machinery. For instance, miners,Usually, the hard hat colors symbolize the worker
road and maintenance workers, and those in thecategory like workmen wear yellow, technicians
construction industry use them. They are evenwear blue, safety administrators wear red and
used by manufacturing personnel.supervisors wear white.
A hard hat is characterized by an exterior surfaceFor road maintenance workers, the hard hats are
made of rigid and hard plastic that is intended topasted with reflective material or fluorescent
protect heads from falling stones, small objects,strips, which adds to their safety while on the job.
loose rubble and even bad weather. It weighs anOther additional safety features that are seen are
average of fourteen ounces and is seen in athe hard safety suspension system which is a
variety of colors.simple shock absorber incase of impact with an
The most comfortable and protective version isobject. Sweatbands are a requirement and this
the one that fits you perfectly. Hard hats are theprevents the hat from slipping off. As mentioned
best PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) when onearlier, to get the maximum protection and
the job and have been used for a number ofsafety make sure that these fit right.
years. In the US, the Bullard Company was theHard hats is classified into three classes, A, B and
first to manufacture protective headgear, whichC. A hard hat made with insulating material that
he called as "hard boiled hats". While the firstprotects you from electrical shock (2,200V) and
construction site that required a hard hat to beimpact from a falling object is a 'Class A' hard hat.
used was the 'Golden Gate Bridge' construction inClass B are similar to A but can withstand shocks
1933. Today they have evolved into better piecesup to 20, 000 V. The 'Class C' hard hat is meant
of Personal Protection and are fitted with add-onsonly to protect you from impact from falling
like visors, earmuffs, mirrors that enhance rearobjects and not an electric shock.
view, and are made from HDPE (High-Density