Head injuries are terrifying accidents that can change your life forever. That’s why we emphasize the importance of wearing safety equipment (PPE) while working, especially safety helmets. The following statistics on accidents and fatalities are based on data from the United States.
In 2012, over 65,000 cases of head injuries occurred daily in workplaces, and in the same year, there were 1,000 fatalities due to head injuries in the workplace.Did you know? The safety helmets commonly used come with various standards.
Safety helmets, also known as safety hats, are well-known for their primary purpose: to protect against potential hazards in the workplace. They are designed to guard against risks and impacts that might occur, such as falling objects that could potentially injure the head.
Safety helmets come in a variety of colors, each serving a specific purpose. Today, GLOVETEX will provide insight into the significance of different helmet colors and their intended uses. Understanding these colors can help ensure that everyone in a workplace is easily identifiable and adheres to safety protocols.
Head injuries or traumatic brain injuries can have severe consequences, including death or disability. In the United States, 30% of those who suffer head trauma die as a result (Hex Armor, 2019). Furthermore, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that 84% of employees who experience head injuries were not wearing safety helmets or head protection.
Materials Used for Safety Helmets
Safety helmets, or hard hats, can be made from three primary materials:
Plastic Safety Helmets: Four Types
- Tough, Flexible, Durable, and Lightweight: Offers resilience and comfort.
- Resistant to Mild Acids and Alkalis: Effective in environments with mild acids and alkalis.
- Not Resistant to Oil and High Temperatures: Vulnerable to oil exposure and high temperatures.
- Tough, Flexible, and More Durable than Polyethylene (PE): Provides enhanced durability and flexibility.
- Heat Resistant: Capable of withstanding high temperatures.
- Tougher and More Flexible than ABS: This type of safety helmet offers superior toughness and flexibility compared to ABS.
- Suitable for Construction, Chemical, and Electrical Work: Ideal for environments involving construction, chemical handling, and electrical work.
- High Strength and Impact Resistance: Provides excellent durability and impact protection, with resistance to scratches.
- Non-Conductive: Does not conduct electricity, enhancing safety in electrical environments.
- Chemical Resistance: Effective against chemicals such as acids, alcohol, oils, and hydraulic fluids.
Fiberglass Safety Helmets:
- Lightweight: Despite being strong, these helmets are relatively light, improving comfort during wear.
- Durable: More durable and resistant compared to HDPE and ABS helmets.
- Heat Resistant: Can withstand temperatures up to 500°C.
- Chemical Resistant: Effective at protecting against chemicals such as acids and oils.
- Recyclable: Can be recycled, making them an environmentally friendly choice.
- Suitable For: Ideal for use in environments such as steel production, oil industries, or areas exposed to thermal radiation.
Standards for Safety Helmets:
Safety Helmets Come in Various Types, Each Tested Differently
Safety helmets come in various types, each tested under different standards. Therefore, choosing a safety helmet suitable for your work environment is crucial. There are five key standards for safety helmets, including OSHA Standard, ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 Standard, EN Standard, CSA Z94.1 Standard, and Thai Industrial Standard (TIS).
OSH Standards: Five Key Safety and Health Standards
Standard for Risk Assessment in Occupational Safety, Health, and Work Environment (TIS 402: 2018)
This standard sets forth minimum requirements and methods for assessing risks related to safety, occupational health, and work environment, aligning with the management system standards for occupational safety, health, and work environment established by safety promotion institutions. It also provides guidelines for safety personnel to use as a standard for hazard identification and risk assessment, leading to effective management strategies for prevention, control, and resolution of safety, health, and environmental issues in the workplace.
Occupational Safety, Health, and Work Environment Management System Standard (TIS 401: 2018)
To provide organizations with guidelines for compliance with the Ministerial Regulation on Safety, Health, and Work Environment Management Standards (No. 2) B.E. 2553 (2010), dated June 24, 2010, the Safety Promotion Institute has developed the Occupational Safety, Health, and Work Environment Management System Standard (TIS 401: 2018). This standard not only applies to organizations within its scope but can also be adopted by those outside the scope to effectively manage occupational safety, health, and work environment systems. This ensures the safety of all workers and supports the organization’s potential for achieving international standards.
Manual Material Handling Ergonomics Standard (TIS 302: 2018)
This standard, developed by the Safety Promotion Institute, aims to promote guidelines for organizations regarding the manual handling and movement of materials. It addresses the design and improvement of workstations, the work environment, and management practices, as well as the proper behavior of employees involved in manual material handling. The standard ensures that practices follow ergonomic principles to prevent musculoskeletal injuries, which have become increasingly severe and prevalent in the current situation.
Computer Work Ergonomics Standard (TIS 301: 2018)
This standard is designed to promote the improvement of working conditions in office environments, particularly for computer work, to ensure ergonomic suitability for employees. It covers key factors for enhancing computer workstations, including workstation setup, computer equipment, work environment, and management of computer-related tasks. Once improvements are made according to this standard, safety officers can use posture assessment tools to evaluate and adjust employees’ computer work postures to align with the recommended ergonomic practices. Additionally, the standard provides simple exercises that employees can perform during work to alleviate muscle strain, enhance flexibility in frequently used muscles, and strengthen underused muscles.
Standard for Safety Management in Working at Heights (TIS 101: 2018)
This standard, developed by the Safety Promotion Institute, aims to promote the enforcement of safety laws, occupational health, and work environment regulations, as well as other relevant laws related to working at heights. It includes key aspects to help stakeholders comply with legal requirements and provides standards for working at heights in situations that may pose risks, even if not yet mandated by law.
ANSI Standard Z89.1-2003 for Safety Helmets
Scope and Application
This standard describes the types and levels of safety helmets, the testing procedures, and performance requirements, as well as various safety demands. The basic performance requirements include protection against impact, penetration, and electrical hazards. The standard specifies that helmets are designed to reduce the force of impacts but not to provide complete protection from severe impacts. Safety helmets should be capable of withstanding the impact of small tools, nails, screws, and wooden fragments, among other potential hazards.
Types of Safety Helmets
The ANSI Z89.1-2003 standard classifies safety helmets based on their impact protection and electrical protection capabilities.
Generally, safety helmets should provide impact protection in either Type 1 or Type 2 categories.
Type 1 Helmets
Type 1 safety helmets are designed to provide protection against impacts from the top. They are not intended to offer protection against side impacts.
Type 2 Helmets
Type 2 safety helmets are designed to provide protection against impacts from both the top and the sides.
Type E Helmets
The “E” stands for Electrical. These helmets are designed to provide electrical protection and must pass an electrical test at 20,000 volts.
Type G Helmets
The “G” stands for General. These helmets are tested to provide electrical protection up to 2,200 volts.
Type C Helmets
The “C” stands for Conductive. These helmets do not offer electrical protection and are not tested for electrical resistance.
Labeling Requirements
Safety helmets should be marked with the manufacturer’s name or symbol, the date of manufacture, the ANSI standard mark, and the helmet size.
Performance Testing of Helmets According to ANSI Z89.1-2003
| Performance | Safety helmet testing |
| Flammability Test | The test for both Type 1 and Type 2 helmets requires that the helmet be positioned to simulate actual wearing conditions. Flames are applied for 5 seconds at a temperature of 800 – 900º C (1472º – 1652º F) to the outside of the helmet. The helmet should show no signs of burning after the test. |
| Impact force transmission Force Transmission(Impact) | Testing for both Type 1 and Type 2 helmets involves testing the helmets in both cold weather conditions (12 types) and hot weather conditions (12 types) to assess impact at a speed of 5.5 meters per second. The object used for the impact should weigh 3.6 kilograms. The results from the tests, as well as the average values from all 24 test conditions, must be recorded. The average impact force transmitted through the helmet should not exceed 3780 N. |
| Penetration Testing Apex Penetration |
For both Type 1 and Type 2 helmets, the testing must simulate the actual wearing conditions. The object intended to penetrate the helmet should impact within the circumference of the helmet, not exceeding a radius of 75 mm (3.0 in) from the center. The penetrating object must weigh 1.0 kg and fall from a height that produces an impact speed of 7.0 m/s. The object should not penetrate the helmet material under any conditions. |
| Electrical Resistance | For both Type 1 and Type 2 helmets, Type E helmets are designed to provide electrical protection and must pass an electrical resistance test at 20,000 volts. The helmet is first tested for impact resistance, then subjected to an electrical resistance test at 20,000 volts for 3 minutes at 9 milliamps to ensure no leakage into the helmet. It is then tested at 30,000 volts to check for any burn marks.
Type G helmets are designed to provide low-level electrical protection and must pass an electrical resistance test at 2,200 volts. The helmet is tested for 1 minute at 3 milliamps to ensure no leakage into the helmet. Type C helmets are not tested for electrical resistance. |
| Impact Energy Attenuation | Testing for Type 2 helmets only |
| Off center penetration | Testing for Type 2 helmets only |
| Chin strap retention | Testing for Type 2 helmets only |
Helmets in this standard come in various colors. Many people might wonder if different colors have specific meanings or if they are just for fashion. If you’re curious, we have the answers. You can read more about it at คลิกที่นี่
EN Standard: European Industry Requirements
EN 812, which is a European standard, outlines the physical and performance requirements and marking for industrial bump caps and presents testing methods. This standard has been published in our country by the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) and covers the following topics: EN 812 – Caps for Protection Against Impact in Industry.
Bump caps differ from industrial helmets in that they are designed to protect the wearer only from stationary objects, such as walking under low ceilings or avoiding overhead obstructions. Consequently, impact testing for bump caps is similar to that required for industrial helmets, but with lower energy levels. For example, a 250 kg weight dropped from a height of 5 mm is used to strike the bump cap with the maximum allowable force, reflecting the actual impact conditions that might occur during use. Typically, impacts are tested at the front and rear of the bump cap with angles of 30 and 60 degrees. During these tests, various conditions are simulated, such as high temperatures, low temperatures, immersion in water, and UV degradation of the bump cap samples.
Industrial bump caps are designed to protect against sharp or pointed objects. Therefore, they undergo puncture testing, which follows a method similar to impact energy absorption testing. Like impact absorption, puncture testing in the EN 812 standard is conducted at lower energy levels than those specified in the EN 397 standard, reflecting the nature of the hazards. As with impact testing, various conditions are tested, such as high temperatures, low temperatures, immersion in water, and UV degradation of the bump cap samples.
Various requirements for safety helmets include several design criteria beyond specific performance requirements. These generally encompass both the coverage provided by the helmet and the visibility it offers to the user. Additionally, helmets must comply with ergonomic principles and other safety requirements.
Our organization, which has been supporting businesses from all sectors with various measurement, analysis, and evaluation tests for many years, also offers testing services for industrial helmets under the EN 812 standard as part of our glove testing services. We employ trained and specialized staff and use advanced technology equipment.The Industrial Standard Mark (ISO)
Currently, there are over 2,000 standards set by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) covering various products used in daily life. The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), which falls under the Ministry of Industry, is the national standards organization responsible for establishing standards. The standard related to safety helmets is TIS 368-2562.
Products bearing the TIS mark must be inspected by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) to ensure they meet the specified quality standards. If a product passes, TISI will grant the manufacturer a license to display the TIS mark on their products. Subsequently, TISI conducts ongoing monitoring by checking the factory’s quality control system and randomly sampling products from factories, import locations, and sales outlets. This regular inspection ensures that products bearing the TIS mark maintain the required quality standards and that manufacturers continue to uphold these standards.
The Industrial Standards Committee (ISO) has established two key principles for the approval process of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI). These principles are: 1) The product must meet the quality requirements as specified by the standards, and 2) The manufacturer must have an adequate quality control system in place to consistently maintain product quality according to the standards.
How are you finding the information so far? Have you gained some understanding about safety helmet standards? We hope that everyone who has read through to the end has a better grasp of the topic. We appreciate your time in reading our article. If you have any questions, need further information, or wish to order safety products, feel free to reach out to us anytime from Monday to Saturday, between 08:00 and 17:00.
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