HEAD PROTECTION
Introduction
Workers are killed and many others seriously injured in the construction industry every year as a result of head injuries. However if you wear a safety helmet your chances of being seriously hurt are greatly reduced. Wearing one could save your life.
REMEMBER: personal protective equipment (PPE) is always the last line of defence. Wherever possible other measures to reduce or control the risk should be adopted first, eg provide brick guards, keep scaffolds free of loose material, securely tie suspended loads. For advice on the principles of PPE, see Construction Sheet No 28.
Legal requirements: when should head protection be worn?
The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989 require suitable head protection to be provided and worn WHEN THERE IS A RISK OF HEAD INJURY. This may be from falling materials or knocking into things such as low scaffolds. Safety helmets MUST be worn in designated 'hard hat' areas. Only turban wearing Sikhs are exempt from these requirements.
Selection of head protection
Head protection will be considered suitable for the purposes of the Regulations if:
1 it protects the wearer against the risk of head injury;
2 it conforms to the appropriate British Standard for safety helmets (NB 'Bump caps' should not normally be used on site as they do not afford adequate protection against falling objects);
3 it is suitable for the work or activity carried out by the wearer; and
4 it is adjustable to provide a good fit.
Helmets come in a variety of designs and it is important that the right type of helmet is provided for the task in hand. Some for example, are made with a reduced peak and may be more suitable for those on site who spend a lot of their time looking upwards, eg surveyors or scaffolders. Similar helmets have also been designed for use in the roofing industry.
If the helmet is going to be worn by someone who has to bend forward, eg steel fixers and groundworkers, or where there is a risk of the helmet being blown off, a chin strap should be provided and used.
Helmets can also be worn on top of other head coverings (eg paper liners, hoods, etc) provided a suitable fit is maintained.
On many sites workers may also be required to wear additional hearing or eye protection (see Construction sheets Nos 30 and 31). DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MODIFY EXISTING HELMETS TO TAKE THESE FITTINGS as this may weaken the helmet. You must use helmets provided with the proper attachment points.
Duties of employers and those in control of construction work
If you are an employer you must provide your employees with head protection when it is required and maintain and replace it whenever necessary.
If you are IN CONTROL OF A SITE, eg as a main contractor, the Regulations allow you to make RULES governing when and where safety helmets should be worn. These rules then apply to EVERYONE on site, and that includes visitors such as architects, delivery drivers and utility workers.
These rules should be in writing and be brought to the attention of all those who may be affected by them so that everyone knows when and where head protection should be worn.
Duties of employees and the self-employed
EMPLOYEES must wear their safety helmets properly and as directed by their employer or comply with rules made by the person in control of the site. They should take care of their helmets, not misuse them and report any defects or problems.
THE SELF-EMPLOYED must provide their own head protection, if not provided on site. They must wear it when there is a risk of head injury, when directed to do so by someone in control or to comply with rules made by the person in control of the site. They must also maintain and replace the head protection, whenever necessary.
Storage and use of helmets
Safety helmets should be periodically checked for damage, such as cracks, serious scratches and dents, and replaced whenever necessary. In any event they should be replaced at intervals recommended by the manufacturer (this may typically be after two years of use, but it could be more frequent than this).
They should not be used for any other purpose and should be kept in a locker or in a dry and cool place out of direct sunlight at the end of each working day. Do not use the chin strap to hang up the helmet.
Some Do's and Don'ts for safety helmets include:
DO:
- wear the helmet the right way round - it affords little or no protection when worn back to front. Safety comes before fashion
- keep a supply of helmets for visitors on site. These should be checked before each issue
- wear a chin strap if you have to bend forward or down, or look up, or work in a windy location
- wear the helmet so that the brim is horizontal when the head is upright, ie do NOT wear it sloping to the back or the front as this may significantly reduce the protection it can provide
DON'T:
- store materials in your helmet: it is designed to fit on your head - not for mixing cement or carrying nails!
- apply paint or solvents to the helmet or stick labels to it - these may chemically weaken the shell and cause rapid deterioration. The manufacturer can add an insignia for you if you wish
- store a plastic helmet in heat or direct sunlight (such as in the rear window of a car). Excessive heat and ultraviolet rays in the sunlight will quickly weaken the plastic
- modify, cut or drill your helmet
- share your helmet with anyone else on site: they should ONLY be on personal issue
References
CONSTRUCTION (HEAD PROTECTION) REGULATIONS 1989 GUIDANCE ON REGULATIONS HMSO 1990 ISBN 011 885503 4
This information is reproduced from a leaflet published by the Health and Safety Executive
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