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In the UK, head injuries account for 20% of all fatal and non-fatal injuries, while only 3% of personal protective equipment (PPE) purchases include hard hats. Nearly a quarter of employees who purchase head protection are unaware that protective capabilities can be diminished if a hard hat expiry date has passed.
Regardless of how they look on the outside, most manufacturers advise regularly upgrading hard hats. The product's lifespan can be severely shortened by excessive wear and tear in harsh situations such as exposure to high temperatures, chemicals, or sunshine. Workers should undertake risk assessments and consider their particular environment when determining a time frame for safe usage. The Health and Safety Executive says, "As a general guide, industrial safety helmets should be replaced no more than three years after manufacture, but always check with the manufacturer." Some manufacturers even recommend replacing the suspension in your hard hat every 12 months.
Workers should also take into account the daily risks they confront at work. The EN 397 European Standard for industrial safety helmets offers impact protection, penetration resistance, and shock absorption. Workers on the ground should wear an EN 397 helmet, while those operating at heights should look for further protection and choose an EN 12492 helmet.
Stickers can conceal cracks and other possible damage. The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations of 1992 stipulates that you "should not customise head protection, e.g. construct your own ventilation holes, paint, mark, or put stickers on it," according to the HSE.
No matter how excellent of a condition the hard hat looks to be in, it must always be changed when the hard hat expiry date has passed. Even if the hard hat has never been worn, this restriction is still in effect. You can find your hard hat's expiry date on the inside, by the rim. The number in the middle will be the year of manufacture. The number on the outside indicates the month.
Make sure you use a hard hat within its intended lifespan and in good condition to protect your head: you only get one!
Find out how Ardent Safety can help in all areas of PPE by getting in touch.
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