One of the most common yet sometimes overlooked pieces of safety equipment is the hard hat. Many workers put them on to start their workdays and don't give much thought to their condition or how the working conditions may affect their performance. Like any other piece of safety equipment, what a hard hat is subjected to during use and how it is cared for when not in use has an impact on how effective that  hard hat will be in the long run.

Hard hats consist of a shell and a suspension that require inspection during assembly and before each use. A shell inspection should focus on looking for cracks, nicks, dents, gouges and any damage caused by impact, penetration, abrasion or rough treatment. Polycarbonate or polyethylene shells should also be inspected for stiffness, brittleness, fading, dullness of color or a chalky appearance that may be due to extreme environmental conditions or regular ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. Shells that exhibit any of these signs or are otherwise damaged should not be used.

In addition to everyday wear and tear, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can pose a problem for hats constructed of plastic materials. Damage caused by UV radiation is easy to spot: the hat will lose its glossy finish and eventually take on a chalky appearance. Further degradation could cause the shell to actually start flaking away. Once the effects of UV radiation are detected, the hard hat shell should be immediately replaced.

The hard hat's suspension, designed to absorb the shock of a blow, should be carefully inspected for cracks or tears, frayed or cut straps, loss of pliability or other signs of wear. All points must fit securely into their respective slots. Any damaged suspensions should be removed and replaced. Never use a suspension that is not intended for use with a particular shell or one made by another manufacturer because shells and suspensions are tested together for compliance.

One common misconception is that hard hats have a predetermined service life; this is not the case. All hard hat components should be inspected daily for signs of dents, cracks, penetration and any damage due to impact, rough treatment or wear. It is suggested to  replace the suspension every 12 months and the hard hat after five years of use. Any hard hat that fails the visual inspection should not be used until the problem is corrected.

Occupational Head Protection

Each affected employee shall wear protective helmets when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects Where electrical hazards are present., "Protective helmets designed to reduce electrical shock hazard shall be worn by each such affected employee when near exposed electrical conductors which could contact the head."

"Some examples of occupations for which head protection should be routinely considered are: electricians, lineman, mechanics and repairers, plumbers and pipe fitters, assemblers, welders, laborers, freight handlers,.

Type 1 helmets incorporate a full brim (the brim fully encircles the dome of the hat); Type 2 helmets have no encircling brim, but may include a short bill on the front (similar to a baseball cap).

In terms of electrical performance,

"Type" is used to designate whether a helmet provides protection strictly from blows to the top of the head (Type I) or protection from blows to both the top and sides of the head (Type II).

• Class G (General) Helmets--This is equivalent to the old Class A. Class G helmets are proof tested at 2,200 volts.
• Class E (Electrical) Helmets--This is equivalent to the old Class B. Class E helmets are proof tested at 20,000 volts.
• Class C (Conductive) Helmets--This class provides no electrical insulation; the alpha designation did not change from the old standard.

High Visibility: Helmets marked with a "HV" indicates that the hard hat meets all testing requirements of the standard for high visibility colors. This includes tests for chromaticity and luminescence.

Q. Can hard hats be painted?

A. Caution should be exercised when painting hard hat shells since some paints and thinners may attack and damage the shell and reduce protection levels.

NSC study: Hands-free phones no safer than hand-held

Compiled by

B.Arunachalam,MGVTS,Hospet

A study published in the National Safety Council's (NSC) Journal of Safety Research found that hands-free phones are no safer than hand-held phones. According to the study, any form of cell phone use decreases the brain’s ability to focus on driving safely. 

The study found that any cell phone use while driving:

In January, the NSC became the first national organization to call for a total ban on cell phone use while driving. For more information on this study, click here.

New Study in NSC Journal Shows Hands-Free Phones No Safer Than Hand-Held Phones

There is little difference between the driving safety risk of hands-free versus hand-held cell phones. The study, by Yoko Ishigami, Dalhousie University, and Raymond Klein, confirms that any type of cell phone use detracts from the brain’s ability to focus on safe driving. Several other studies also support the claim that hands-free phones and hand-held phones are equally dangerous.

Cell phone use behind the wheel is a growing problem. According to conservative estimates, each year in the United States more than 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths are caused by a distracted driver on a cell phone. In this study, researchers found hands-free phones and hand-held phones are equally dangerous for drivers. Results show both types of phones:

• Cause more accidents and driving errors;
• Impair reaction times;
• Slow down overall vehicle speeds.

While vehicle speed tends to decline for drivers using any type of cell phones, those with hand-held phones generally show the most decline. The researchers suggest, “Slowing down can be a compensatory behavior to maintain safety in the face of factors challenging it. Drivers may have slowed down more when talking on a hand-held phone because they were more aware of the mental and physical load imposed on them.”