A hard hat not only protects your head from falling materials, but it can also soften the blow to your head if you accidentally bump into a piece of machinery, equipment or another potentially harmful item.
Here’s how a hard hat protects you:
* The rigid outer shell resists and deflects blows to the head.
* The suspension system inside the hat acts as a shock absorber by distributing the impact over a large area.
* Some hats serve as an insulator against electrical shocks.
* The hat shields your scalp, face, neck and shoulders against hazardous splashes, spills and drips.
* Some hard hats can be modified, allowing you to add face shields, goggles, hoods or hearing protection to them.
Even if your hard hat gets dented or shattered, it still takes some of the force of a blow off your head. If a blow is powerful enough to shatter a hard hat, just imagine what it could do to your unprotected head.
CHOOSING THE BEST HARD HAT
When you’re shopping around for a hard hat, consider what kind of work you’ll be performing. Choose the most suitable hard hat for your line of work and only find an approved hard hat that has been manufactured to meet required standards. This ensures that your head will receive the utmost protection.
You should also make sure your hat properly fits your head. The hard hat will offer you maximum protection only if you have the proper shock absorbing space between your hat and the suspension system. You should adjust the sweat bands and suspension straps to ensure the hat sits comfortably and securely on your head. Your hard hat shouldn’t slip when you bend your head forward and you should not wear it tilted back on your head.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR HAT
Once you find the right hard hat, be sure to take good care of it. Do not leave your hard hat resting on the dashboard of your car because sunlight and heat can damage the sweatband and suspension straps. Try not to drop or throw your hat, and don’t ever drill holes in it. You should check your hat for cracks, gouges and strap frays or breaks every single day.
Although some workers might think that wearing a hard hat is nothing more than nuisance, it could save their life one day. Every time you step onto a jobsite, shield your head with a protective, well-fitting hard hat.
