In this Article
Introduction
Safety hard hats are a crucial piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers in various industries where head protection is required in the United Kingdom. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different types of hard hats, including those with visor integration, their required standards, and the significance of their colours. We offer a wide range of hard hats for sale, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your workplace needs.
Industries That Require Hard Hats
Hard hats are essential in numerous industries to protect workers from potential head injuries. Some of the most common industries that require hard hats include:
- Construction
- Mining
- Oil and gas
- Manufacturing
- Forestry
- Utilities
- Transportation
However, this list is not exhaustive, and any workplace with a risk of falling objects, debris, or head impact should consider using hard hats as a safety measure.
Hard Hat Standards: CE-approved, EN 397, EN 166, and EN 50365
Hard hats must meet specific safety standards to ensure they provide adequate protection. In the UK, hard hats must be CE-approved, which means they comply with the European Union’s safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. Additionally, they must meet the EN 397 standard for industrial safety helmets, EN 166 for personal eye protection, and EN 50365 for electrically insulating helmets.
These standards cover various performance requirements, such as:
- Shock absorption
- Penetration resistance
- Flame resistance
- Chinstrap strength
- Electrical insulation
- Eye protection
By choosing a hard hat that meets these standards, you can trust that it will provide optimal protection for workers in hazardous environments.
Hard Hats with Visor Integration
Some hard hats are designed with integrated visors, offering additional protection to the face and eyes. Visor-integrated hard hats are especially useful in industries where workers are exposed to hazards such as flying debris, chemical splashes, or intense sunlight. These hard hats typically feature a retractable or removable visor, allowing for easy adjustment based on the worker’s needs and preferences.
When selecting a hard hat with a visor, ensure that it meets the relevant safety standards such as EN 166 for personal eye protection, in addition to the standards for the hard hat itself.
The Importance of Hard Hat Colours
Colours are often used to differentiate the roles of workers on a job site, which can help improve communication and safety. While there is no universal colour-coding system, some common hard hat colours and their associated roles include:
- White: Engineers, Trades or Architects, Road Workers, Traffic Control Personnel, or Heavy Machinery Operators
- Black: Site Supervisors, Managers, Project Managers or Project Directors
- Green: Safety Officers, First Aid Personnel
- Red: Fire Marshalls
Keep in mind that these colour associations may vary between companies and regions. It is essential to establish a clear colour-coding system within your organisation and ensure that all workers are aware of its significance.
Choosing the Right Hard Hat
We provide a wide range of hard hats for sale, designed to meet the varying needs of different industries. When selecting a hard hat, consider the following factors:
- Compliance with relevant safety standards (CE-approved, EN 397, EN 166, and EN 50365)
- Comfort and fit
- Durability and lifespan
- Visor integration, if needed
- Appropriate colour for the worker’s role
With our extensive selection of hard hats, you can trust that you’ll find the perfect solution for your workplace’s safety requirements.
Maintenance and Inspection of Hard Hats
Regular maintenance and inspection of hard hats are essential to ensure they remain effective in protecting workers from potential hazards. Here are some tips for proper care and inspection:
- Inspect hard hats for cracks, dents, or other signs of damage before each use.
- Clean the hard hat with mild soap and water, and avoid using harsh chemicals or solvents that could weaken the material.
- Replace the suspension system according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, typically every 12 months.
- Store hard hats away from direct sunlight, heat, and extreme cold to prevent material degradation.
- Adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended replacement schedule, usually every 2-5 years, depending on the work environment and hard hat condition.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure the continued effectiveness of your hard hats in providing head protection for workers in various UK industries.
Conclusion
Safety hard hats play a vital role in protecting workers from head injuries in various UK industries. Ensuring that your hard hats meet the necessary standards, such as CE approval, EN 397, EN 166, and EN 50365 compliance, is crucial for optimal protection.
Additionally, using a colour-coding system can improve communication and safety on the job site.
Browse our selection of hard hats, including visor-integrated options, to find the perfect solution for your workplace needs.
Further Reading / Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
In most situations, the answer is yes – the law mandates the use of head protection on construction sites due to the high risk of head injuries. To minimise these risks, construction work should be organised accordingly, for example, by using scaffolding with toe boards and brick guards to prevent objects from falling.
However, if the risk of head injury persists even after implementing these measures, it is necessary to:
- Provide all workers with appropriate head protection.
- Ensure that all workers wear the provided head protection.
Compliance with these requirements is essential under the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992. As of 6 April, these regulations apply to the provision and wearing of head protection on construction sites, following the revocation of the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989.
Suitable head protection should:
- Be in excellent condition. If damaged, it must be discarded.
- Properly fit the wearer and be worn correctly.
- Not interfere with the use of hearing protection when necessary.
- Be acquired from a trustworthy supplier, as counterfeit hard hats do exist in the market.
To ensure head protection is consistently worn, you can:
- Establish a site rule that mandates the use of head protection.
- Lead by example by always wearing your own hard hat.
- Regularly check that others on site are also wearing their head protection.
Yes, there are exemptions. Section 11(1) of the Employment Act 1989, as amended by Section 6 of the Deregulation Act 2015, exempts turban-wearing Sikhs from any legal requirement to wear safety helmets in a workplace, including construction sites. This exemption is limited to head protection, and turban-wearing Sikhs must still wear other required personal protective equipment. The exemption applies to all turban-wearing Sikhs, such as visitors and employees. However, there is no exemption for Sikhs who choose not to wear a turban or for members of other religious groups.
Safety helmets are not legally required if there is no risk of head injury. However, on nearly all construction sites, despite implementing controls, there will almost always be situations where a risk of head injury persists. In cases where risks are present, such as falling objects or potential head impacts, suitable head protection should be provided and worn (with the exception of turban-wearing Sikhs). When turban-wearing Sikhs work in areas with a significant residual risk of head injury, employers should pay special attention to the control measures they have in place.
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Expertline Safety Helmet (Slip Ratchet)
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