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On November 22, 2023, OSHA published its Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB), detailing the key differences between traditional construction hard hats and the newer advanced range of safety helmets. This recommendation highlighted a key industry problem – head injuries. In the last Census of 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that head injuries were nearly 6 percent of non-fatal occupational injuries that required days off work. With an increasing demand for construction workers, the industry is working hard to ensure that safety is not a concern for incoming workers. Let’s break down the evolution of head safety.
If you happen to find a photo of construction workers in the 1920s to the 1930s, you’ll notice most, if not all, are not wearing head safety gear. At the time, wearing safety and hazardous materials was considered a sign of weakness and fearfulness. Employers in the industry recognized the need to protect their employees, including the Navy, which provided workers on the ships with protective hats to avoid injury from falling objects and seagull waste. The hat was made of a leather brim, glue, and black paint. Bigger projects like the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge increased safety concerns and mandates on employees.
E.D. Bullard Co, a mining equipment company, shifted priorities from mining to construction safety equipment. The first hard hat in plastics was introduced in 1952 and adjusted materials from thermoplastic to polyethylene in the 1960s. Since the early 2000s, traditional hard hats have been produced with plastic, which was affordable and easily distributed throughout companies across the country.
In November 2023, President and CEO of Hensel Phelps, Michael Choutka, announced the company would require employees to switch from hard hats to helmet-style PPE following OSHA’s recommendation due to the growing concerns about employee safety. Falling objects, slips, trips, and falls are among the most common causes of head injuries in the construction industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry accounted for 46.2 percent of all fatal falls, slips, and trips in 2021.
Based on OSHA and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) criteria, safety helmets are broken down into two types. Type 1 offers protection from “top of head” impact. Type 2 offers protection from “top of head” impact and lateral impact, meaning the sides, front, and back of the head are protected from falling objects.
The “Type 2” Safety helmet offers additional support with chin straps and protection from falling objects, falls, and debris, with attachments like brims, visors, and ear protection.
ANSI also defines head safety gear based on the electrical protection it can provide the user. Class E (Electrical) defines the equipment as providing the maximum amount of voltage protection, tested up to 20,000 volts. Class G (General) provides a limited amount of voltage protection, tested up to 2,200 volts. OSHA recommends that head protection be replaced at least 5-10 years, depending on the lifespan.
The new and improved PPE safety helmets have grown in popularity due to their enhanced safety and comfort. “Oldtimers” may prefer hard hats due to the traditional style and familiarity. It is unclear how effective the new safety helmets have been in reducing head injuries in the construction industry, but they are undoubtedly a significant step towards improving worker safety.
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s Construction Workforce Initiative, Build Your Future Arizona’s mission is to create a sustainable and skilled craft workforce by creating awareness about high-paying construction careers, training opportunities, and mapping career paths to employment in these high-demand occupations.
