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Considerations for Choosing Head Protection: OSHA Compliance, Hazard Assessments, and Technology Advancements
• Previous records of head injuries or near misses.
• Impact and other risks, including falling objects, hitting or bumping the head, lateral impact, electrical shock, or chemical splash.
• Job-related tasks and applications, such as working at height, confined space entry, climbing or welding.
• Environmental conditions such as electrical sources, extreme weather or high noise.
Additional factors to consider when choosing head protection may include comfort and worker compliance and your organization’s customization requirements for PPE.
How to Select Head Protection
The OSHA SHIB includes considerations for choosing head protection for:
• Construction sites, especially those with high risks of falling objects and debris, impacts from equipment, awkward working positions, and/or slip, trip, and fall hazards.
• Oil and gas, where workers face potential exposure to chemicals and severe impacts.
• Working at height.
• Electrical work or tasks that involve proximity to electrical hazards.
• High- and low-temperature environments.
• High visibility for construction and road work.
• Specialized work environments that may require integrated face shields, hearing protection or communication devices.
These considerations are based on specific applications. Because the hazards your team faces may vary, consider whether they would benefit from a head protection solution that is different from what has been highlighted in the SHIB.
How to Inspect Head Protection
It’s important to note that head protection is intended for single-use impact protection. So it may not retain its full effectiveness after an incident. Any hard hat that has withstood an impact or penetration should be immediately removed from service and replaced.
Inspecting your head protection prior to each use and throughout the day can help ensure that its protection capabilities are not compromised, even from what may look like minor damage or a hairline crack.
OSHA outlines general inspection steps and storage guidelines in the updated SHIB:
• Inspect the outer shell for cracks, dents or other signs of damage.
• Examine the suspension system (headband and chin strap) for wear and tear.
• Check for labels and certification marks.
This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.