Protecting Your Most Important Asset: A Guide to Choosing the Right Hard Hat

As an industrial safety professional, you know the importance of using the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect workers from head to toe. But let’s take a moment to focus on what might be the most critical part of the body to protect: the head.

Your head is more than just one-seventh of your body’s total height. It’s the nerve center for almost everything you do on the job site—your eyes, ears, and nose all play crucial roles in keeping you safe and effective at work. And, most importantly, your head houses your brain, the organ that controls it all. If the brain is damaged, nothing else works properly. That’s why choosing the right hard hat for your job is so important.

Types of Hard Hats

When we talk about “types” of hard hats, we’re not discussing styles like cap, full brim, or climbing models—those are just preferences. Instead, “type” refers to a safety standard designation. The current ANSI consensus standard for hard hats is ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014.

• Type I Hard Hats: These are designed to reduce the impact of blows to the top of the head. They’re great for situations where tools, small parts, or other items might be dropped from a height—or if you accidentally bump your head on something above you.
• Type II Hard Hats: These provide the same top-of-the-head protection but also cushion against lateral impacts. They’re a must-have in environments where there’s a risk of getting hit from the side, like around moving equipment or materials.

In Canada, the standard is CSA Z94.1-15, which is similar to the U.S. standards but with some differences in testing requirements. Make sure the hard hat you use meets the specific standard for your location, as being certified by one doesn’t automatically mean it meets the other.

Understanding a Hard Hat’s ‘Class’

The “Class” designation of a hard hat refers to its electrical protection, which is different from the “Type” designation that deals with impact protection.

• Class E (Electrical, Non-Conductive): Designed to reduce the danger of contact with high-voltage conductors, tested at 20,000 volts.
• Class G (General, Non-Conductive): Meant for protection against low-voltage conductors, tested at 2,200 volts.
• Class C (Conductive, No Electrical Rating): These don’t protect against electrical hazards and aren’t tested for it.

To put it simply:

• Electrical workers who are at risk of high-voltage hazards should go with a Class E hard hat.
• General construction workers, who might encounter low-voltage hazards, should opt for at least a Class G hard hat.
• If there’s no risk of electrical contact, a Class C hard hat might be sufficient.

Final Tips for Hard Hat Safety

A hard hat is your first line of defense against impacts that could harm your brain, so take its maintenance seriously:

• Sunlight can weaken the materials in your hard hat, so don’t store it on a truck’s dashboard or anywhere it’s exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.
• Chemicals can also deteriorate the materials. Clean your hard hat with mild soap and water, avoiding harsh detergents or petroleum-based cleaners.
• Inspect your hard hat regularly. Damage can happen without you noticing, and any hard hat that’s taken a severe hit should be replaced immediately—even if it looks fine on the outside.

Remember, your head may only make up about 15% of your body’s height, but protecting it deserves 100% of your attention. Stay safe out there!