Page 34 - OHS, June 2023

PPE: HEAD & FACE PROTECTION Choosing a Hard Hat What you should know about the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 protective hard hats. BY DREW THIEL In the United States, according to OSHA standard number 1926.100(a), employees must be protected by protective helmets when “working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, or from falling or flying objects.”1 In addition, “the employer must provide each employee with head protection that meets the specifications contained in any of the following consensus standards,” noting American National Standards Institute (ANSI) “American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection.” 2 ANSI Z89.1-2014 “describes Types and Classes, testing and performance requirements for protective helmets. These include recommended safety requirements for authorities considering the establishment of regulations or codes concerning the use of protective helmets.”2 All industrial protective hard hats are either Type 1 or Type 2, based on ANSI and CSA standards for impact resistance and direction. A hard hat can only have one designation for impact properties. There is no in-between according to these standards. But understanding what the differences are between Type 1 and Type 2 can often be a challenge for workers, especially when taking concerns about specific applications and uses into account. Let’s start by first reviewing what the ANSI and CSA standards are. What is the ANSI standard? The performance and testing requirements and types and classes of protective helmets established in ANSI Z89.1-2014 provide employers with hard hat options that provide appropriate protection for hazards present in a given workplace. 32 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2023 www.ohsonline.com Photos © MSA Safety