HEAD PROTECTION

Like all Personal Protection Equipment the correct selection, use and care of Industrial Safety Helmets is an important part of the Occupational Safety and Health Program. An Industrial Safety Helmet is designed to provide protection from falling objects, lateral and vertical impacts and contact with electrical hazards to the upper part of the wearers’ head.

Other workplace requirements may need to be considered during the safety helmet selection process.

• The use in conjunction with earmuffs in noisy workplace.
• The use of a ratchet adjustment headband and/or a chin strap will enhance stability.
• The use of a faceshield to protect from flying debris or light chemical splash.
• The use of sun brim to give more protection against heat.

To provide adequate protection to the wearer the helmet should be a comfortable, secure it.

CARE OF SAFETY HELMET

All Industrial Safety Helmet have been designed to protect the wearer from impact and electrical hazard, therefore, for the helmets to provide ongoing protection the correct care of the helmet is essential.

The design should not be modified or altered by :

• Drilling holes in the shell.
• Painting the shell.
• Reducing the clearance between the shell and the harness by alteration or installing objects inside the helmet.
• Not using the correct harness supplied by the manufacturer.
• Fitting of non-certified accessories to the helmet.

AVOID THE PRACTICES OF :

• Using the helmet for other than its design purpose such as seats, wheel chocks etc.
• Excessive use of chemicals such as repellents, strong cleaning agents etc.
• Wearer alteration e.g.: engraving of names, painting, fitting penholders cigarette lighters etc.
• Not cleaning the helmet of built up dirt, grease etc following use or clean at least weekly.
• Poor storage and unnecessary exposure to the weather and solar radiation – leaving outside when not in use or storage in the back of an open vehicle.
• Holding the cap by its brim and lexing it. This will weaken the brim and cause fatigue in the safety cap. All these have the potential to damage or weaken the helmet and cause unseen deterioration of the shell and its harness.

CLEANING

The helmet should be kept in good condition and cleaned regularly using warm water and a household detergent only. The use of solvents or harsh cleaning agents to clean the helmet is not recommended as these can cause non visible damage and weaken the shell and harness materials.

USEFUL LIFE

At the time of issue to the wearer, the helmet should be marked with the issue date. Field tests have shown that generally, helmet shells have a life of at least 3 years from the time of issue. We recommend that helmets that are used regularly should be replaced or re-tested after three years of use, with the harness being replaced every 18 months.

POINTS TO CONSIDER

The selection process should consider the workplace operational, occupational health and safety requirements to ensure the correct helmet type and appropriate accessories are selected. Ensure the wearer understands the purpose/reason for the need to wear a safety helmet. The wearer is instructed on the fitting and care of the helmet and or accessories. Check before use habits, Periodic inspection and maintenance is carried out to ensure the helmets are in good working condition and defective helmets and components or helmets that have exceeded a reasonable working life are replaced.

• Bump caps are not an alternative to a mandatory Safety helmet.
• Bumps caps are effective against knocks, bumps and scalp lacerations. Bumps caps are ideally suited for some trades activities, domestic security, police, aviation ground staff and transport services.

Looking for an economical hearing protection that are suitable with this helmet, see page… or ask in-store.