One of the most iconic sights on a construction worksite is the hard hat. Even though hard hats at construction worksites are all but ubiquitous now, this did not use to be the case. In fact, the original helmet that Edward Bullard invented in the aftermath of World War 1 was actually made of leather. However, Bullard then took inspiration from the metal helmet that soldiers wore during the war and created the modern hard hat.
Soon afterward, many construction companies started to request that their builders wear a hard hat and then they required it. When the Hoover Dam construction project purchased and required its employees to wear a hard hat on the job, hard hats became a permanent fixture for construction jobs. According to Occupational Health and Safety, in the modern world there are ANSI-regulated helmet requirements.
What are the basic requirements for head protection?
There are three basic requirements for head protection. The first is that the helmet must protect the wearer against penetration by either falling or stationary objects. The second is that the helmet must be able to absorb shock from any blows to the wearer’s head. The final requirement is that the helmet must be water-resistant and difficult to burn.
What are the classes?
There are three different classes of helmets. The classes are G, E, and C. A class G helmet is for general use and will protect the wearer against 2,200 volts of electricity. A class E is “electrical” and will protect the wearer against up to 20,000 volts. A class C is a conductive helmet and offers no electrical protection to the wearer.
