| The hard hats were conceptualized about a | | | | 1940's Bullard came out with the three rib, heat |
| hundred years back by Bullard who had a family | | | | resistant fiberglass hard hat. The fiberglass was |
| owned manufacturing business of personal | | | | soon replaced by thermoplastic because of the |
| protective equipment. They now specialize in | | | | material being less costly and better suited for |
| industrial head protection including Construction | | | | heat resistance. |
| Hard Hats. In the early days, there was no | | | | In the 1980's Bullard once again introduced a |
| protective gear for the head in the construction | | | | revolutionary new hard hat. This time while |
| industry. Then with the passage of time and | | | | designing and manufacturing the hard hat, the |
| recognition of safety measures, a helmet similar | | | | focus was on proper suspension for fieldwork |
| to a baseball cap was designed. It had a small | | | | purposes. This also helped in marking a new era in |
| hard leather and shellac brim. It was mainly used | | | | the standards and safety of head protection gear. |
| by the miners. | | | | The new design integrated a non-slip ratchet |
| During the year 1915, Bullard started work on the | | | | suspension helmet, with a knob at the back for |
| hard hats, also known as helmets at that time. It | | | | simple sizing. This particular model, famously |
| was originally made out of steamed canvas, glue | | | | known as the 3000 R, is produced from |
| and black paint and was referred to as the 'hard | | | | polyethylene plastic. This makes it extremely light |
| boiled hat'. This proved as an inspiration for the | | | | in weight, durable and easy to mold and non |
| making of the Construction hard hats. Bullard, in | | | | conductive to electricity. The plastic is also treated |
| collaboration with the engineers of that time, set | | | | with an ultra violet inhibitor to protect it from |
| out to design a helmet that could protect the | | | | outdoor environment. |
| workers from impact of falling objects. Hence the | | | | A lot of other accessories can also be added to |
| mining helmet was transformed into a durable | | | | the regular construction hard hats. Face shields, |
| Construction Hard Hat. | | | | sun visors, attachments for lamps, ear/neck |
| The first construction hard hat was made of | | | | protectors, hearing protectors, perspiration |
| aluminum, which was considered very durable and | | | | absorbing cloths lining the hat, radios, pagers, |
| reasonably lightweight at that time. They were | | | | walkie-talkies and camera are just a few of them. |
| very effective in protecting from falling objects | | | | But the future of the hard hats may be |
| and bad weather but were very hazardous for | | | | ventilated. This will help in making the hot hard |
| electrical purposes. The reason being that | | | | hats wearable for the workers in extreme |
| aluminum is a great conductor of electricity. In the | | | | climates as well as normal conditions. |