Personal protective equipment serves as the backbone of safety for employees in many different fields. This of course includes the construction industry.
Hard hats became industry protocol for a reason. Understanding how they work and why they are so crucial can help more workers and managers alike know why it is so crucial to use them.
The purpose of a hard hat
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) discusses the purpose of a hard hat. Their design protects the skull from a head injury caused by falling or flying objects, burns and even electrical shocks.
People have used hard hats in the workplace since the 1920s, though the technology behind them has significantly improved since those times.
Hard hat manufacturers have two goals in mind: to dampen the force of a blow to the head and to redistribute it more equally across the head so as to lessen the overall damage.
Depending on the industry a person works in, they may need a different or more specialized type of hard hat. Electricians, timber workers, mechanics, warehouse workers and construction workers all benefit from the use of a hard hat.
The role hard hats play in worker safety
Hard hats work as intended and, when used properly, greatly reduce the risk of a serious head injury occurring on the job.
For that reason, it is important for workers to wear their hard hats while engaging in the work that requires personal protective equipment.
It is also important to note that if a worker ends up injured on the job when not wearing the proper gear, they might end up denied worker’s compensation.
