Hard hat head protection is now required on most industrial work sites around the world, and increasingly companies are using hard hats to identify their company and positions within the work force.
Any good hard hat should be certified to the Australian and New Zealand Standard '1801:1997 Occupational protective helmets'.
A hard hat protects the head from injury by falling objects, impact against moving and stationary surfaces, debris, bad weather and electric shock.
The internal webbing on Pro Choice Safety Gear hard hats distributes the weight of the helmet evenly (and therefore the shock of impact) over the entire surface area of the helmet and top of the head. The internal harness also provides a 50mm “buffer zone” between the shell and the head to further absorb shock.
What is a Certified hard hat?
A Certified hard hat meets the industry Standard and has also been tested by an independent third party in accordance with that Standard. The benefit is knowing that claims of Standard approval are accompanied by supporting documentation.
How does a hard hat protect you?
A hard hat protects you by providing the following features:
- A rigid shell that resists and deflects blows to the head;
- A suspension system inside the hard hat that acts as a shock absorber;
- If fitted with a Brow guard and Visor, it shields your face and neck from splashes and debris.
- If fitted with ear muffs, it provides protection for your hearing
What tests do the hard hats undergo to meet these Standards?
Every production run of Pro Choice Safety Gear helmets is tested to ensure it complies with the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS1801. Hard hats are conditioned prior to each test to differing heats and conditions to ensure that they comply under a variety of conditions.
These are:
- Hot - at a temperature of 50 ±2°C.
- Cold - at a temperature of -10 ±2°C.
- Wet - total immersion in water at a temperature of 23 ±5°C.
They then undergo testing for:
- Electrical Resistance – where the leakage current cannot exceed 3 mA with no electrical discharge from the material nor flashover over the rim of the helmet.
- Stiffness – where the indent of the hard hat shell under a force of 90 ±1 Newtons (N) does not exceed 15 mm when measured between 8 seconds and 10 seconds after application of this force. A Newton is the amount of force required to accelerate a body with a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one metre per second squared.
- Shock Absorption – where the impact of 50 ±1 Joules (J) will not cause the deceleration of the striker to exceed 980 m/s2, or the force transmitted to the hard hat wearer will not exceed 5.0 kN. A Joule is the work done, or energy expended, by a force of one Newton moving an object one metre along the direction of the force.
- Resistance to Penetration – where the head form is not hit by the point of the striker
What is the in use life span of a hard hat?
When a hard hat shows signs of wear and tear to either the helmet shell or the harness it should be replaced. It should also be replaced after any impact that would have caused the wearer injury, as the integrity of the structure will have been weakened. Although there is no set service life for hard hats, we recommend replacement after no more than 3 years from the date of first use.
REPLACE IF:
- Hard hat has been in constant use for 3 or more years.
- Harness has been in constant use for 2 or more years.
- Showing signs of wear and tear to either helmet shell or harness.
- An impact has occurred that would have caused wearer injury.
Components of harnesses may deteriorate more rapidly in service, therefore they must be replaced every 2 years from the date of first use. In use, head protection gear is generally treated with a lack of care, often being thrown or dropped, used as a receptacle or carried on the rear window shelf of a vehicle.
None of these actions are conducive to continued performance, so Pro Choice Safety Gear recommends users to regularly inspect both the helmet shell and its harness for signs of wear and tear and to store in a cool, dry place when not in use.
Replace your hard hat when:
- Cracks appear in the shell
- The shiny surface appears dull or chalky
- The shell becomes brittle
- Impact with helmet surface has been made
Replace your suspension when:
- The suspension becomes brittle
- One or more of the mounts break off
- The suspension will no longer hold securely to the head
- The cradling straps break or become worn
Date stamp? Is that like a “best before” date?
No, manufacturers are required by the Australian Standards to mark each helmet with the month and year of manufacture. This should not be used as a basis for determining the life of an industrial safety helmet - it's a date of birth, not a use-by.
What is the importance of the harness, apart from fitting the hard hat to the head?
The harness works by stretching, which absorbs and distributes the force of the energy at impact, thus minimising the effect of the outside force. Hard hats should be replaced after experiencing an impact as the harness may be weakened.
Can the effectiveness of a hard hat be affected by modifications such as drilling holes for ventilation or to secure a light?
Yes, the design of the hard hat is to give maximum protection at minimum weight. This is achieved by the ridging and moulding of the helmet shape. Any interference to the design will weaken the structure.
Can a hard hat be painted?
No. The addition of paint or other chemical compounds (such as textas or permanent markers) may alter the structural and protective effectiveness of the hard hat. However, most hard hats come in a variety of colours that can be tooled to any workplace need.
Will the addition of chin straps, visors or ear muffs affect the effectiveness of the hard hat?
Pro Choice Safety Gear accessories such as chin straps, ear muffs and visors have been designed to complement the Pro Choice Safety Gear hard hats without compromising the effectiveness of the helmet. Official Pro Choice Safety Gear accessories have been tested and certified by Australian and New Zealand Standards to meet their stringent criteria, when worn with Pro Choice Safety Gear Hard Hats.
Am I able to use chin straps on Pro Choice Safety Gear Hard Hats that are made by another manufacturer?
This is not recommended. Chin straps are not tested under AS/NZS 1801 for Type 1 helmets but in order to provide the best quality product, Pro Choice Safety Gear Chin Straps are tested and certified by BSI against European Standard EN397:1995 Industrial Safety Helmet. Under the European Standard requirement, it became necessary for the chin strap to break when a specific load is applied.
A Pro Choice Safety Gear chin strap may break in a different manner to another company’s so it is recommended that you should only use a Pro Choice Safety Gear chin strap on a Pro Choice Safety Gear helmet. Similarly, you should not use Pro Choice Safety Gear chin straps on helmets made by other manufacturers.
For further information, view the Pro Choice Protective Headwear Safety Guide here
