Page 47 - OHS, February/March 2025

bumping the head, lateral impact, electrical
bumping the head, lateral impact, electrical
shock, or chemical splash
shock, or chemical splash
■ Job-related tasks and applications,
■ Job-related tasks and applications,
such as working at height, confi ned space
such as working at height, confi ned space
entry, climbing, or welding
entry, climbing, or welding
■ Environmental conditions such as
electrical sources, extreme weather, or high
noise
Additional considerations may include
comfort, worker compliance, your orga-
nization’s customization requirements for
PPE, seasonal factors such as outdoor heat
stress, and ESG/sustainability goals.
Final Considerations
With so many options on the market to-
day, understanding the diff erences between
Type I and Type II, what OSHA recom-
mends, and the specifi c hazards and con-
cerns of your jobsite and application, can
help simplify the process of choosing head
protection for your organization. Some of
the latest innovations can help address spe-
cifi c concerns, such as:
■ Heat Stress: Look for a Type I hard
hat with a thermal barrier that can help to
keep the inside of the hard hat cooler than
those without this technology. Options like
this can be benefi cial in road construction
or oil and gas in hot, sunny climates or
times of year.
■ Rotational Impact Protection: One
of the most serious types of injuries that
can result from falling objects and equip-
ment or slips, trips, and falls is Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI); the most common of
which is a concussion. Look for a Type II
option that provides additional protection
to help mitigate rotational impact and the
risk of TBIs. For example, technology that
allows the helmet to move relative to the
head at impact, redirecting energies and
helping reduce harmful rotational motion.
■ ESG/Sustainability: If ESG and sus-
tainability initiatives are top-of-mind, head
protection solutions made with renewable
resources are available. Look for solutions
made with green high-density polyethylene
(GHDPE), for example, or that are certifi ed
to have a high biobased content.
■ Accessory Compatibility: Follow-
ing a hazard assessment, you may deter-
mine that eye, face, and hearing protection
are necessary. Look for a solution from a
manufacturer whose accessories are com-
patible across head protection products to
help simplify your program and inventory.
On a fi nal note, remember – it is impor-
tant to inspect your PPE prior to each use
tant to inspect your PPE prior to each use
and throughout the day, and always follow
and throughout the day, and always follow
manufacturer instructions and warnings.
manufacturer instructions and warnings.
Damage can occur without notice and
Damage can occur without notice and
compromise the protection capabilities.
compromise the protection capabilities.
Any hard hat that has been struck severely
should be immediately removed from ser-
vice and replaced. Even if it looks to be in
good condition, hairline cracks that are
barely visible can aff ect the integrity of the
hard hat or safety helmet.
ment Marketing Manager for Head Protec-
ment Marketing Manager for Head Protec-
tion and Fall Protection Engineered Systems
tion and Fall Protection Engineered Systems
for the industrial safety market. He recently
for the industrial safety market. He recently
joined MSA in August of 2024 but has almost
joined MSA in August of 2024 but has almost
18 years of corporate experience as a Finance
18 years of corporate experience as a Finance
Business Partner and Product Manager, spe-
cializing in cross-functional collaboration for
new product development and marketing.
REFERENCES
1. tinyurl.com/2tzrkkuv
2. tinyurl.com/3ewbhudy
Kevin Kurkowski is the North America Seg-
V-Gard H2™
Safety Helmet
Type II Head Protection, the MSA Way. MSA V-Gard H2 Safety Helmets
help provide protection against top and lateral impacts with ANSI Type II
certification and are available with optional Mips® brain protection system
for industrial safety helmets for additional rotational impact protection.
Compatible with nearly all MSA V-Gard® and V-Gard H1™ Safety Helmet
accessories and can be customized with new and existing logos..
Learn more at MSAsafety.com/V-GardH2
06-6661-MCP / 07.2024
www.ohsonline.com FEBRUARY/MARCH 2025 | Occupational Health & Safety 45