The Necessity of Wearing Head Protection on the Job
On every manufacturing or construction site, your head is the most valuable and important asset you have. The human brain and its protective “packaging” are vulnerable to physical trauma, such as blows and bangs. The fact is that brain injury is still a leading cause of death on construction sites. Due to its fragility, the brain can be injured by either making touch with or being crushed by the soft tissue that borders the inside of the skull. Having a crumple zone in your car, adequate head protection does the same thing for you, but over a longer period of time.
It is crucial that you wear a helmet or other head protection at all times. Partners in Total Safety, Honeywell, make some of the best helmets available in terms of comfort, reliability, and durability. More details on this issue will be presented in the body of the article.
Risk Management That Makes Sense
It is crucial that your protective gear provides you with maximum protection for your head. All head protection, including helmets, should come with detailed instructions, and the manufacturer or supplier should be available to answer any questions that may arise. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines to the letter is of the utmost significance.
There may be additional specific national requirements requiring the usage of head protection. Protective headgear is mandated by law in the UK if there is a risk of a head injury.
The most prevalent kind of head protection is the helmet.
The best way to prevent damage to your noggin while at work is to wear a protective helmet. The issue is that workers won’t wear helmets if they are too uncomfortable or don’t have a good fit. The best fit for protective headgear will provide some space for air to move freely. Maintenance and Cleaning – Always wipe down your helmet after each use. Depending on the user’s head size and shape, a number of different helmets are available. It’s not uncommon for helmets to have a sliding mechanism that allows the wearer to adjust the level of snugness to their preference. Look for the sweet spot where the hard hat is snug but not uncomfortable when trying on different sizes to find the appropriate one for you. If your hard hat causes you to sustain cuts or scrapes, it is not fitted correctly.
Strap Modification
Make sure the strap fits snugly without becoming uncomfortable. Make sure there is enough room between your head and the harness’s suspension at all times. A safe distance is between 1 and 1 14 inches, with 1 being the optimal. Also, make sure there are no signs of wear or fraying on the strap.
Wear and Tear
Before each usage, check the exterior of your helmet for any signs of damage. The presence of cracks, gouges, or flaking on the surface is cause for concern. The cracks or chalking that form when the hat is struck, smashed, or knocked can eventually cause it to break.
Proper Substitution
When determining whether or not to change your hat, you should think about how long you’ve had it, how often you wear it, and what you enjoy. A helmet should be replaced when its protective capacity has been significantly reduced, or possibly sooner. The manufacturer of the helmet is a great resource for advice on when to replace it. Most hard hat makers have guidelines outlining how often you should replace your head protection. On average, a protective helmet will last between two and five years before it needs to be replaced. When it comes down to it, if your helmet is showing serious symptoms of wear and tear, it’s probably time to get a new one.