|  | Public Health Safety | Work Safety

What Is a Type 1 Hard Hat?

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards require that protective helmets be worn on job sites where there is a danger of head injury from falling objects or where there are electrical shock hazards that could make contact with the head. Although OSHA does not specify on what jobs a hard hat is mandatory, it does say these are jobs on which head protection should be considered: "carpenters, electricians, lineman, mechanics and repairers, plumbers and pipe fitters, assemblers, packers, wrappers, sawyers, welders, laborers, freight handlers, timber cutting and logging, stock handlers and warehouse laborers."

  1. Types

    • The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) categorizes protective helmets into different types. The 1997 standard classifies Type I hard hats as those that protect against objects falling on top of the head. Type II helmets protect against blows to the top of the head as well as to the side of the head.

    Classes

    • Type I and Type II hard hats are divided into three classes. Class G (general) helmets are designed to protect from low-voltage electrical shocks. They are tested at 2,200 volts. Class E (electrical) helmets, tested at 20,000 volts, protect against high-voltage electrical sources. Class C helmets do not protect against electrical shock.

    Designations

    • Type I hard hats, as well as Type II helmets, must carry the ANSI legend with the manufacturer's name, the date of manufacture, sizing instructions, care and service guidelines and a class designation. Headgear that looks like a hard hat but does not carry this information is suspect.

    Damage

    • Both Type I and Type II hard hats should be inspected periodically for damage such as cracks, dents and a dull surface or flaking (which indicate damage from UV radiation). Hard hats with cracks or dents should not be used until they are repaired. Those with indications of UV damage should be replaced immediately. In general, hard hats should be replaced every five years.

    Special Features

    • Only Type I or Type II hard hats that bear an insignia of two rotating arrows may be worn frontward or backward. Hard hats marked "LT" may be worn at temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit. Helmets marked "HV" are a high-visibility color.

Work Safety - Related Articles