Is this the kind of PPE you want your workers to use?

What’s wrong with this picture?

Even if bucket head is just horsing around (as the smile on his co-worker’s face suggests), he’s committing an OSHA violation, not to mention putting his melon at risk.

The Moral: Buckets aren’t an acceptable form of head protection. So make sure all workers exposed to risk of head injuries wear protective helmets or other head protection devices that:

• Comply with ANSI Z89.1-2003, “American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection”;
• Comply with ANSI Z89.1-1997, “American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection”;
• Comply with ANSI Z89.1-1986, “American National Standard for Personnel Protection — Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers—Requirements”; or
• Other devices that you can prove are at least as effective as head protection devices meeting one of the above standards.

3 Reasons to Pay Attention

1. There are a lot of things in the workplace that can hurt your head:
   • Falling & flying objects
   • Fixed objects like beams that you can bump into
   • Hazardous chemicals
   • Electricity

2. Using hard hats will prevent most head injuries

3. Hard hats don’t work unless you select the right kind and use them properly—neither of which is true about the worker wearing the bucket on his head in the above photo!

The 3 Kinds of Hardhats

The first thing you need to do is use the right kind of hard hat. There are 3 classes, each of which protects against some head hazards but not others:
Class G (formerly called Class A): General service hard hats:

• Protect you from impact
• Provides only limited protection from electricity

 

Class E (formerly called Class B): Used for electrical work:

• Protects you against falling objects
• Protects you against high voltage shock/burns

 

Class C: Designed for comfort and provide only limited protection:

• Protects you against bumping into fixed objects
• Doesn’t protect you against falling objects or electrical shock

 

8 Hard Hat Use Dos and Don’ts

Hard hats don’t work unless you use them correctly:

DON’T drill holes in your hard hat

DO keep your hard hat away from extreme heat & cold

DON’T carry objects in your hard hat

DO wash your hard hat with water & mild soap

DON’T use the suspension system in your hard hat with another shell

DO inspect your hard hat for wear & damage each time you use it

DON’T paint your hard hat

DO wear your hard hat with the brim facing forward