Write a toolbox talk on why hard hats are shaped like they are

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# SafetyWorks! Toolbox Talks # Subject: Head Protection - Hard Hats There are some practical reasons for wearing a hard hat. They help keep your head cooler in summer; dry during rain; and helps shield your ears from noise. But the main reason to wear a hard hat is that it protects the control center part of your body—your head. ## Guide for Discussion What a Hard Hat Does • Protects you from falling objects. • Protects your head in case of a fall or a bump into an object. - Protects you from electrical shocks and burns if it's a non-conductive hat. • It is a neat place to put stickers and decals, such as first aid trained or safety committee member. Proper Care. In order for your hard hat to take care of you, you need to care for your hat. • Always keep your hard hat properly adjusted. • Do not cut, bend or heat the hard hat. • When you see deep gouges or cracks in the shell, or the hat color turns dull, its time for a new one. ## Proper Wear. • Do not wear it backwards. • Don't put anything inside your hard hat except your head. • Don't try to substitute it for a “bump cap." The bump cap will not provide adequate protection from falling objects; just isn't strong enough. • It is not a stool or a step; doing so weakens the shell of the hard hat. ## Additional Discussion Notes: What is company policy on wearing hard hats? INSERT POLICY When working on scaffolding and exposed to falling objects, a hard hat must be worn. Remember: The average hard hat weighs about 14 ounces. The average head weighs about 14 pounds. That's about one ounce of protection for each pound of head. A small price to pay to protect the control center of your body. NOTE: Proper work clothing can make a job a lot easier and safer. Most workers never really think much about what they are wearing, but they should. It is very important to dress for the weather since most of the work is done outside or in a Head Protection - Hard Hats SafetyWorks! 45 State House Station August…

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# How hard hats protect you Hard hats protect you with the following: □ A rigid shell that resists and deflects blows to the head, - A suspension system inside the hat that acts as a shock absorber - A shield for your scalp, face, neck, and shoulders against overhead splashes, spills, and drips of hot or caustic liquids; □ Some hats serve as an insulator against electrical shocks Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 5

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# Hard Hat Replacement - Inspect headwear before each use for any visible signs of dents, cracks, gouges, penetration, chalking, loss of gloss. or any other signs of damage that might reduce the degree of safety originally provided. - Replace hat when hairline cracks start to appear. - Replace hat that has been struck by a forceful object, even if no damage is obvious. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 14

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CPWR TOOLBOX THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING TALK # Head Protection The hard hat is one of the most widely used and important pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) on the job. Hard hats protect workers from head injuries due to falling objects and overhead hazards. ## Bob's Story Bob and his crew were putting a new roof on a house. During his lunch break, Bob was on the ground eating a sandwich. A worker on the roof dropped his hammer. The falling hammer struck Bob's hard hat. Although Bob had some pain and discomfort, he did not need hospitalization. - Have you or someone you know ever had their hard hat prevent an injury? If so, what happened? - How could this incident have been prevented? ## Remember This ➤ On a jobsite, always wear a hard hat that fits properly. ➤ Always wear your hard hat with the bill facing forward. Certification by ANSI does not cover hard hats worn backwards. ➤ Always avoid contact between the hard hat and electric wires. ➤ Always keep the space between the shell and the head clear. For example, don't wear a ball cap or other object under your hard hat. Never alter its shell or suspension, because that could drastically reduce the protection it gives. ➤ Never use a cushion-support suspension that is intended for use with a different hard hat shell or that is made by a different manufacturer. ➤ If you wear eye protection, use a kind designed to work with hard hats. Be sure to follow the maker's instructions for use. How can we stay safe today? What will we do at the worksite to promote hard hat use and prevent head injuries? - 1. - 2. OSHA Regulation: 1926.100 ©2017, CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved. CPWR is the research and training arm of NABTU. Production of this document was supported by cooperative agreement OH 009762 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors an…

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# Using a Hard Hat - Adjust the suspension inside your hard hat so that the hat sits comfortably, but securely on your head. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 12

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# Bump Caps - Bump caps are made from lightweight plastic and are designed only to protect you from bumping your head on protruding objects. - Bump caps do not have a suspension system to protect you from falling objects nor do they protect you from electrical shocks. - WARNING: You can never substitute a bump cap for a hard hat. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 8

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# Head protection A 70-lb metal beam fell from the seventh storey of a condominium development and struck a worker on the head, face, and torso. The man was taken to hospital in serious condition but survived. Police credit the man's hard hat with saving his life. ## Explain dangers A hard hat can protect you from cuts, scrapes, and bruises. It can protect you from falling objects, which can cause severe damage to the head and spine. It can prevent electric shock and limit your exposure to UV radiation from the sun. ## Identify controls Hard hats are mandatory for every worker at all times on a construction project in Ontario. Keep the following points in mind to ensure that you get the best use out of your hard hat. • Use the correct type of hard hat for the job. The hard hat should be labeled with the CSA or ANSI Type and Class of protection. • A Class E hard hat is required for construction and utility projects. It provides electrical protection up to 20,000 volts. • Type I and Type II hard hats meet the CSA and ANSI standard for impact protection. Type I hard hats protect the top of the head, while Type II hard hats protect both the top and the sides of the head. Type II hard hats are recommended for use on construction projects. • Hard hats that are poorly maintained or improperly used can fail. It's important that you follow the manufacturer's instructions. • Inspect your hard hat every day before you use it. • Clean your hard hat using mild soap or a cleaning agent recommended by the manufacturer. Never use a cleaning solvent. • Never wear a baseball cap under your hard hat. • Never paint a hard hat or make holes in a hard hat. - A hard hat should normally be worn facing forward. It may be worn backwards only if it has a reverse orientation mark (see below). Reverse Orientation Mark • Never store your hard hat in the rear window of your car-intense sunlight can make it age more quickly. • Never spray your hard hat with insect repellant-…

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- WAC [redacted identifier] Head protection. (1) All employees on any con- struction site must be provided an individual hard hat which meets all requirements of (a) through (c) of this subsection. (a) Hard hats for the protection of employees against impact and/or penetration of falling and flying objects must meet the speci- fications contained in American National Standards Institute, Z89.1-1969, Safety Requirements for Industrial Head Protection. (b) You must provide each employee with head protection that meets any of the following American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for industrial head protection: (i) Z89.1-2009; (ii) 289.1-2003; or (iii) Z89.1-1997. (c) Hard hats for the head protection of employees exposed to high voltage electrical shock and burns must meet the specifications contained in American National Standards Institute, Z89.2-1971. (2) All employees must have their individual hard hats on site and readily available at all times. (3) All employees must wear a hard hat on any construction site whenever there is a potential exposure to danger of flying or falling objects to persons working or occupying the area. Note: - The hard hat may be removed whenever there is no potential exposure to a hazard. (4) (a) Employees working on asphalt paving crews exposed to ex- treme temperatures from hot mix and not exposed to falling objects do not have to wear protective hard hats. (b) Flaggers working with asphalt paving operations must comply with the requirements of WAC [redacted identifier]. (5) Caps with metal buttons or metal visors must not be worn around electrical hazards. (6) Employees working near moving machinery or in locations which present a hair-catching or fire hazard must wear caps, nets or other head and face protection that will completely contain the hair. [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 16-09-085, § [redacted identifier], filed 4/19/16, effective 5/20/16. Statu- tory Authori…

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# PPE Fact Sheet-The Right Equipment—Head to PPE is the last line of defense against workplace hazards. OSHA defines PPE as "equipment for the eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, protective shields and barriers." Many OSHA regulations state that PPE must meet criteria set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ## Head Protection HEAD PROTECTION OSHA requires that head protection (hard hats) be worn if there is a risk of head injury from electrical burns or falling/flying objects. ## Aren't all hard hats the same? No. You must wear the right hat for the job. All hard hats approved for electrical work made since 1997 are marked "Class E." Hard hats made before 1997 are marked "Class B." These markings will be on a label inside the helmet or stamped into the helmet itself. Newer hats may also be marked "Type 1" or "Type 2." Type 1 hard hats protect you from impacts on the top of your head. Type 2 hard hats protect you from impacts on the top and sides of your head. ## How do I wear and care for my hard hat? Always wear your hat with the bill forward. (Hats are tested in this position.) If you wear a hat differ- ently, you may not be fully protected. The hat should fit snugly without being too tight. You should clean and inspect your hard hat regularly according to the man- ufacturer's instructions. Check the hat for cracks, dents, frayed straps, and dulling of the finish. These conditions can reduce protection. Use only mild soap and water for clean- ing. Heavy-duty cleaners and other chemicals can damage the hat. Don't wear another hat under your hard hat! WARNING PORE READ ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS ANSI 289.1-1997 ALGE MAS KAFESWON Class E, Type 1 hard hat. CLASS-AD ANGI 20011933 [redacted identifier] Class B hard hat. Page 68 Section 8

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR # Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Part Number: 1926 - Part Number - Title: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction - Subpart: 1926 Subpart E - Subpart Title: Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment Standard - Number: - 1926.100 - Title: Head protection. - GPO Source: e-CFR ## 1926.100(a) Employees working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, or from falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns, shall be protected by protective helmets. ## 1926.100(b) Criteria for head protection. 1926.100(b)(1) The employer must provide each employee with head protection that meets the specifications contained in any of the following consensus standards: 1926.100(b)(1)(i) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z89.1-2009, "American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection," incorporated by reference in $1926.6; - 1926.100(b)(1)(ii) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z89.1-2003, "American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection," incorporated by reference in $1926.6; or Submit Feedback