Page 24 - OHS, September 2021

PPE: CONSTRUCTION
Preventing head injuries is a sustained effort from everyone on the construction site.
were caused by falls, making it the leading cause of fatalities in the workplace.
With proper head protection, these common yet serious injuries could likely be prevented, ultimately saving lives in the event of a worker slipping or falling. Companies could prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost time and compensation payouts to the injured worker and insurance companies could see less claims and overall lower risk.
Similar to other PPE, head protection that is approved by OSHA meets the minimum criteria established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). Head protection classification is referred to by a “Type” and a “Class,” and PPE manufacturers are producing helmets in a variety of configurations to meet the various hazards on construction sites.
The Type refers to the level of protection from impact. Below are descriptions of the types:
ANSI Type I. Type I reduces the force of impact resulting from a blow only to the top of the head.
ANSI Type II. Type II reduces the force of lateral impact resulting from a blow which may be received off center, from the side or to the top of the head.
The Class refers to the different levels of protection from electricity:
■ Class E (Electrical): rated for 20,000 volts
■ Class G (General): rated for 2,200 volts
■ Class C (Conductive): does not offer electrical protection
Both Safe and Efficient
While hard hats have long been the top choice among construction workers due to their top of head protection, jobsite hazards come in from all directions and include more than an object falling from above. A worker could be knocked off a ladder and fall, or get struck by a piece of material being transported across the site.
Like a hard hat, a safety helmet shields the top of the head, but unlike a standard hard hat, a Type II rated safety helmet could also offer increased protection from side impacts to the head, either from off-center or from the side. Although not a popular option, some workers may add a chin strap to their hard hat to prevent it from falling off. However, without one, because of its design, a hard hat can be prone to falling off, which leads to more than 80,000 head injuries per year according to RMI.
Safety helmets have the chin straps built-in, making them more likely to be used. This keeps the helmet in place and will not fall off as easy as a hard hat in the event of a worker falling.
20 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2021
Ensuring the PPE stays in place in the event of a fall, trip or slip is critical to the safety of the worker.
ThThe increase in safety helmet adoption on jobsites has some manufacturers of head protection and other forms of PPE designing their helmets with safety, comfort, and user effifficiency in mind. Some manufacturers offer helmets that include padded suspension with an adjustable swinging ratchet for quick adjustment, or comfortably fitting adjustable buckle chin straps. Other features include anti-microbial sweatbands and helmet liners that prevent odor and bacteria build up and can even be removed to be machine washed. These new advancements mean crews do not need to trade-off safety for comfort. Like its hard hat counterpart, safety helmets include options like attachable visors and ear protection. These add-ons make typical hard hats and helmets more effective for the person wearing it.
Adoption Roadblocks
One of the largest drawbacks of safety helmets is the cost. Safety helmets are more expensive than hard hats. Traditional hard hats can cost as little as $15 while helmets can cost upwards of $100 depending on the model and optional features. This upfront cost could be difficult for smaller contractors, companies or individuals to justify, and replacing a lost or misplaced hard hat is less of a financial burden. Although initially more expensive, contractors could ultimately create a safer work environment for their employees. For jobsites that mandate helmets, this could result in reduced costs for insurance coverage. With reduced insurance rates, contractors could bid more aggressively when vying for a contract.
Whether to embrace safety helmets could also come down to user preferences, especially for those who have spent years wearing the same style of head protection. The overall look and feel of the safety helmet is different from a hard hat and some workers may not feel comfortable switching to it just yet. It may take some time for workers to get used to the helmet’s streamlined, snug fit. Because the helmet attaches more closely to the head, and some workers might think a helmet feels heavier than a traditional hard hat while others may express feeling safer. Even with PPE manufacturers producing helmets intended to be safe, efficient and comfortable, the cultural shift to helmet-style head protection might be difficult for some in the construction industry to get on board with.
Industry Impact
Preventing head injuries is a sustained effort from everyone on the construction site. Manufacturers, safety mangers and contractors have new opportunities to prevent head injuries on the construction site with safety helmets that a traditional style hard hat may not be able to protect against. With this new trend, some construction sites have already begun to switch over to safety helmets or are providing safety helmets as an option while others continue to wear hard hats depending on the type of work they have to do. The question remains: Will the hard hat remain the iconic symbol of the construction site 10 or 15 years from now, or will the safety helmet be just as accurate of a depiction? Only time will tell.
Zach Richman is the Group Product Manager for Milwaukee Tool. www.ohsonline.com