How to Select a Hard Hat to Fit Everyone's Comfort Zone

How to Select a Hard Hat to Fit Everyone's Comfort Zone

Recent research and design innovations coupled with advances in materials are paving the way for a new era of head protection.

With competitive price and timely delivery, T-Safety sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Hazards to workers' heads are widespread among industries as diverse as construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, mining, welding, forestry, and more. Among the most commonly used forms of personal protective equipment, hard hats are designed to protect the head from impact through an integrated combination of rigid shell material and an internal suspension. Too often, unfortunately, a poor-fitting or uncomfortable hard hat simply doesn't get used, putting workers at risk. This article reviews advances in hard hat technology that deliver a customized fit to help keep your workforce safe.

While the shell acts as a barrier to prevent penetration, its suspension dissipates energy upon impact to reduce the severity of the blow and the risk of injury. Though hard hats have been relied upon for decades, their basic materials and mechanisms have been slow to evolve. Recent research and design innovations coupled with advances in materials, however, are paving the way for a new era of head protection.

According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), hard hats must be worn wherever the risk of electrical shock, burns, or impact or penetration from falling or flying objects exists. But despite safety standards and widespread hard hat adoption, head injuries are on the rise. The number of non-fatal occupational head injuries requiring at least one day away from work in totaled 84,750, up 4.7 percent from , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The costs of such an incident to affected individuals&#;whose injuries may range from bumps or concussions to permanent brain injury or death&#;as well as employers are significant. It is easy to agree that the importance of protecting workers&#; most valuable asset, the head, is an undisputed priority.

According to OSHA, it is an employer's responsibility to provide head protection for its workers. But finding a hard hat to fit each individual comfortably&#;whether your workforce is comprised of five or 500&#;can prove challenging. Everyone has a unique build, from head circumference, height, and shape to ear and neck measurements and gender, and there are endless combinations of dimensions to consider. A hat that fits comfortably on one worker may cause significant discomfort for another.

Unfortunately, the discomforts of ill-fitting hard hats are familiar to most wearers. When a hard hat is poorly designed or constructed or is not properly sized or balanced, it is likely to feel bulky, wobbly, or top-heavy, causing pinch points, headaches, and neck and shoulder strain. To improve a wobbly hat&#;s retention, a worker is likely to overtighten its suspension, which leads to pinching and painful pressure. Likewise, working in an ill-fitting hat commonly leads to ergonomic strain as workers tense their muscles and avoid natural movement to help keep the hat in place, causing muscle strain.

This article originally appeared in the March issue of Occupational Health & Safety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20bKIg9mJa4

Often worn more than any other piece of PPE, a hard hat&#;s comfort and correct fit is critical to ensuring it is happily worn and does not increase the dangers of an application by causing distraction, discomfort or by inhibiting vision or movement.

Furthermore, the correct positioning of the hardhat is critical to preventing neck, back and other muscoskeletal injuries, according to ProChoice Safety Gear product development manager, Brad Rodgers.

Rodgers said that the shape and design of the hardhat&#;s shell is also important.

&#;If you have a large peak and you&#;re looking up all the time such as is common in construction, you will constantly have to hyperextend your neck, putting it under unnecessary strain,&#; he said.

However before you even begin analysing design, fit and comfort, you should first ensure the hard hat is independently tested and certified to Australian & New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS) and does not only have manufacturer &#;stated compliance&#;.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit bulk hard hats.

Once you have confirmed the hard hat&#;s compliance is &#;independently certified&#; should you begin analysing the fit, comfort and other features, according to Rodgers.

&#;For a hard hat to be fitted correctly, the nape strap needs to sit low on the head, ideally at the base of the skull,&#; Rodgers said, adding that it must be comfortable, yet snug enough that it will not fall off when working overhead or in the case of a strong gust of wind.

He described the Pro Choice&#;s V9 Hard Hat as having Ratchet and Push Lock harness options that enable simple and specific adjustments where the nape strap meets the headband.

Rodgers said both the Ratchet and Push Lock harnesses integrate with a sturdy webbed cradle system to ensure the hard hat offers the perfect fit, as well as being correctly positioned on the head to minimise the occurrence of neck strain.

Rodgers said that this correct positioning was especially important when hard hat accessories are added, further increasing the strain placed on the neck.

With accessories specifically designed for the V9 Hard Hat ranging from sun visors, ear muffs and lamp brackets, it is more versatile than ever and why the Pro Choice design engineers have been so focused on the perfect design.

&#;When you add the weight of accessories, if a hardhat isn&#;t perfectly balanced could contribute to neck strain,&#; Rodgers said.

He described other design features of the V9 including a removable and replaceable cotton sweatband along with nine air vents that combine with the webbed cradle system to encourage air flow and keep your head cool.

&#;It also features a good-looking sleek profile and a short peak that offers excellent visibility when looking up,&#; Rodgers added.

A review of the V9 by an electrician on tradie website www.toolstradestoys.com.au recently described it as &#;hands down, the best hard hat I&#;ve ever worn&#;.

Watch the video above.

Sign Up for Exclusive Content

Contact us to discuss your requirements of welding face mask. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.