expert opinion: - OPERC - Off-highway Plant and Equipment ...

ExPERT oPINIoN
34
exPert oPinion: Hard Hats and Hot Heads
Continued....
selecting the right heaD Protection
The Construction (Head Protection)
Regulations 1989 require that suitable
head protection be provided and
worn whenever there is a risk of head
injury. The risk may be from falling
materials or from walking into stationary
hazards in awkward, cramped working
situations; helmets must be worn in any
designated ‘hard hat’ area and only
turban wearing Sikhs are exempt.
Construction sites are often blanket
hard hat areas, and the debate
continues over whether superior
performance helmets, the usual EN397
compliant helmets, bump caps or even
no head protection at all is acceptable.
Roofers might argue that helmets are
designed to protect against falling
objects, and those people working at the
highest point on a site where there is no
risk of falling objects, should be exempt.
Workers such as electricians and
plumbers toiling in enclosed areas
are also at low risk of falling objects,
but higher risk of bumps and scrapes.
Industrial bump caps meeting the
requirements of EN 812 are intended
to provide protection against the effects
of striking the head against hard
stationary objects, but are not intended
to protect against falling or thrown
objects, or moving or suspended loads.
The JSP HardCap A1 - sleek and low profile -
and it exceeds the most recent EN 812 standards
June 2011
If you are in control of a site you need
to assess the risks of every job in
every location. The selection of head
protection for any task hinges upon
the effective risk assessment, and its
recommendations are likely to begin
with a hierarchy of control measures
to ameliorate the hazard long before
head protection is recommended
to defend against residual risk.
The regulations allow you to rule where
and when helmets are mandatory,
and these rules must apply to
everyone on site, including short and
long term visitors; rules should be in
writing and brought to the attention
of all who may be affected. Enforcing
the rules is another matter, and
although today’s safety headwear
offers more protection and comfort
than ever before, many workers still
complain that it is uncomfortable,
unnecessary or simply uncool!
For the majority of industrial
environments, the risk assessment
recommendations can be satisfied by
an industrial safety helmet meeting
European Standard EN 397 or a bump
cap meeting EN 812. But other factors
will influence the choice of helmet, such
as extremes of temperature and the
materials and chemicals being worked
with. Some chemicals may cause
rapid deterioration of certain helmet
materials robbing them of energy
absorbing properties and shortening
their life. Heat is another factor, and
there are helmets that can withstand
radiated heat exceeding 150°C,
while still conforming to the
lateral deformation tests
of standard EN397.
“everyone’s talking about it!”
Risk assessments may show up other
hazards, and eye protectors, ear
defenders and respirators may also be
needed in conjunction with the helmet.
It is essential that each item of PPE
worn is compatible with the others.
Compatibility is about wearer comfort
and the continued performance of
each item. In such cases the helmet
manufacturer is the best source of
advice, because helmets are made
in a number of materials and come
with a range of accessories.
Head protection should not impede
the task being carried out, and a
peaked helmet for example may
not be suitable for a surveyor taking
measurements or a scaffolder
who needs an unrestricted upward
field of vision. Chin straps will be
necessary if the job involves windy
conditions, especially at height,
or demands frequent bending
over or looking upwards.
The JSP Mk7 H-Temp 150 - EN 397 head
protection with extra high temperature
resistance of up to 150°C