Page 35 - OHS, June 2023

ANSI Z89.1-2014 was prepared by members of the International Safety Equipment Association’s (ISEA) Head Protection Group as a revision to the 2009 edition and approved by a consensus review panel comprised of technical experts, unions, construction industry and other user groups, test labs, and certification and government agencies. What are CSA Group Standards? In Canada, Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) has established CSA Z94.1-15 (the “Standard”). The Standard defines the areas of the head that are to be protected and includes basic performance requirements for dielectric strength, impact attenuation, penetration resistance, passive retention (stability), shell flammability and liner ignition resistance. 3 The Standard includes requirements for and provides guidance on the selection, care, and use of protective headwear. Additionally, tests specified in the Standard set minimum performance requirements for protective headwear. What Is a Type 1 Hard Hat? Type 1 hard hats based on ANSI and CSA standards are designed to protect against an impact to ONLY the top of the head. There are four specific performance requirements for ANSI Type 1 hard hats: 1. Flammability. No flame can be visible for five seconds after removing the test flame from the hard hat surface. 2. Force transmission. A single hard hat must not transmit force to the test head form exceeding 1,000 pounds of force. Conditioned hard hats (hot, cold and ambient) shall be averaged, and the average cannot exceed 850 pounds of force to the test head form. 3. Apex penetration. The penetrator cannot make contact with the top of the head form. 4. Electrical classification (Class G, Class E or Class C). Class G and Class E hard hats must meet appropriate performance requirements. Class G must withstand 2,200 volts for one minute, and maximum leakage shall not exceed three milliamperes. Class E must withstand 20,000 volts for three minutes after impact, and maximum leakage shall not exceed nine milliamperes. Class C hard hats are not tested for electrical insulation. What Is a Type 2 Hard Hat? Type 2 hard hats based on ANSI and CSA standards are designed to protect against an impact to the front, back, sides AND top of the head. In addition to the four performance requirements of an ANSI Type 1 hard hat, Type 2 performance contains three additional requirements: 1. Impact energy attenuation. The hard hat is dropped onto a spherical object at various angles around the hard hat, above a designated test line. 2. Off-center penetration. A penetrator is dropped vertically, and the hard hat is rotated at different angles above a designated test line. The penetrator cannot contact the head form. 3. Chinstrap retention (optional). If a Type 2 hard hat is provided with a chin strap, the chin strap must be tested for retention, must remain attached to the hard hat and must not stretch beyond one inch in length. 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. EN397:2021 vs EN12492:2012 Approvals When choosing an industrial hard hat, it’s important to understand how European standards for impact and penetration testing compare to those for U.S. and Canada. EN397 testing requirements for industrial hard hats are similar to those for ANSI and CSA Type 1. It is focused on top impact ONLY for industrial use. EN12492 testing requirements provide a slightly larger top impact zone for mountaineering and climbing helmets; while EN12492 helmets provide larger top impact protection when compared to ANSI Type 1 hard hats, the standard is NOT equivalent to ANSI Type 2 as it does not provide the same lateral protection that a Type 2 helmet provides. Prior to selecting a hard hat, be sure that it meets the appropriate protection requirements www.ohsonline.com JUNE 2023 | Occupational Health & Safety 33