Head protection gear has come a long way since the classic hard hat.
Traditional hard hats can do a great job of protecting workers from things falling on their heads, but if a worker falls, then the hard hats easily fly off which leaves the head vulnerable.
In fact, construction workers are more likely to experience traumatic head injuries than any other employees in the U.S., according to NIOSH. A quarter of all construction fatalities are from head injuries, and more than half of these injuries are caused by falls.
Better safety helmets – that stay on during a fall – might have prevented many of these deaths.
Within the past decade, helmets inspired by those used in high-risk, high-impact sports have revolutionized the construction-site head-protection game. Today’s construction safety helmets are versatile, comfortable, and most importantly safer than the older alternatives.
Here are five reasons why safety helmets for construction are rapidly replacing hard hats across the country:
1. Versatility
Safety helmets are made to fit a variety of common job applications. They protect workers on almost any type of project, from construction to manufacturing, forestry, and oil/gas/wind utilities.
For example, Pro Tool & Supply carries the new 3M™ SecureFit™ Safety Helmet X5000, which covers all trades and can easily be customized with accessories to meet specific job requirements.
2. Cost
Safety helmet cost savings might sound counter-intuitive as construction safety helmets do typically cost more up-front than the traditional hard hat design.
However, safety helmets also often last longer than hard-hats. Their shelf-life can be up to twice as long.
Improving safety also has financial benefits that are hard to estimate. Injuries are expensive, both for workers and for the project. If an incident occurs, the insurance, worker’s comp, and timeline delays are much more expensive than the cost of upgrading safety gear.
3. Safety
Safety gear has a real impact on site safety.
While construction helmets are a relatively new invention, in similar cases, safety gear improvements have been shown to directly reduce injuries. For instance, enforcing glove safety can reduce hand injuries by up to 90%.
Even if falls are rare on your site, preventing even one serious or life-altering injury makes the upgrade to safer helmets worth it. On top of staying put if a worker falls, helmets can also provide better protection from side impacts.
Of course, all protective headgear used on-site has to meet ANSI compliance standards, including ANSI Z89.1, but not all safety helmets meet these guidelines.
However, models such as 3M Safety Helmets are held to rigorous safety standards and extensively impact- and penetration-tested.
4. Comfort
Modern construction safety helmets are inspired by models created for use in sports from skateboarding to rock climbing. They’re designed to stay put, stand up to wear-and-tear, and be comfortable enough not to get in the way of athletic activity.
Today’s helmets offer numerous customizable features for better ventilation, suspension, and pressure diffusion. Workers should be able to find an option that fits their heads and is comfortable to wear all day long.
5. Attachable Accessories
Because helmets are specifically designed for construction, they can be outfitted with additional features such as hearing protection, face shields, visors, reflective kits, and elastic band clips.
The 3M™ SecureFit™ Safety Helmet X5000 also includes additional features such as UV wear indicators and integrated clips for goggles and headlamps, and is compatible with many of the other personal protection equipment carried by Pro Tool & Supply.
Safety Helmets Save Lives
Hard hats just don’t cut it anymore when it comes to protecting construction workers.
The latest safety helmets for construction, like the 3M™ SecureFit™ Safety Helmet X5000, provide unmatched comfort, ventilation, and impact-protection to keep workers safe.
Pro Tool carries a full line of personal protection equipment to meet the needs of most sites.
If you’d like more information about what safety gear would work best for your project, our team will be happy to walk you through the latest and greatest options for on-site head and body protection. Contact our expert technicians for product information or request a quote here.
