In your workplace, your employer has the responsibility to keep you safe. One of the ways they may do that is by requiring you and your coworkers to wear hard hats when you’re on a construction site.
There are many different kinds of hard hats, so choosing whichever one you think is interesting or attractive won’t be right for safety’s sake. Hard hats come in classes, and they need to meet the American National Standards Institute’s requirements.
What are the kinds of hard hats?
Hard hats come in two main categories: Type I hard hats and Type II hard hats. Type I has a full brim that goes around the entire hard had. Type II has just a small brim in the front and is most commonly seen in today’s workplaces.
On top of these two categories of hard hats, you also have to look at the hard hat classes. They are classed as Class A, B or C.
- Class A hard hats are protective against low-voltage conductors, impact and penetration.
- Class B hard hats are used in high-voltage situations up to 20,000 volts. They also protect against penetration and impacts.
- Class C hard hats won’t provide electrical resistance but do protect against impacts and penetration.
It’s important for you to know that you are wearing the right style of hard hat for the circumstances. For instance, if you are working in a building with high voltage exposure possible, then you should wear the Class B hard hat. If you do not have one available, you should wait to perform the work until that hard hat is available to help offer protection against electrocution.
Safety equipment can mean the difference between life and death
Safety equipment can be the difference between life and death in an accident. You should always wear your hard hat wherever you are required to do so. If something falls onto your head or you are exposed to electricity, you will want to have the correct safety equipment on to protect you against serious injury. If your employer or a third-party liable for your safety does not offer hard hats or doesn’t offer the right style, then you may be able to hold them accountable if you’re injured.