Hard Hats on Construction Sites

1. Hard Hats on Construction Sites

2. Use your head and wear a hard hat The facts • Even on a well run site head injuries can still happen so hard hats should be worn • A lot of workers were killed or received serious head injuries before the use of hard hats on construction sites • Wearing a hard hat may prevent or lessen an injury to your head • There is no change in the requirement to provide and wear hard hats on a construction site

3. The Law – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations 1992 • From 6 April 2013, the PPE Regulations 1992 apply to the provision and use of hard hats on construction sites • Employers must provide hard hats to employees and, • Ensure hard hats are worn when there is a risk of head injury • Self-employed should provide their own hard hats and ensure they wear them.

4. Provide hard hats to your workers (and visitors to your site) • Hard Hats should: • Be in good condition. If it’s damaged, throw it away • Fit the person wearing it and be worn properly • Not stop the wearing of hearing protectors as well (when needed) • Only be obtained from a reputable supplier – there are fake hard hats on the market

5. Hard hats must be worn Ensuring head protection is worn • Make the wearing of hard hats a site rule • Display safety signs in areas where there is a risk of head injury • Always wear your hard hat to set an example • Check others are wearing theirs

6. Taking care of your hard hat Bad Practice The shell of a hard hat can be damaged or weakened if not looked after. For example: • Objects fall onto it • It strikes against a fixed object • It receives a severe impact • Deep scratches occur • It is sprayed with chemicals or solvent based paint Inspect a hard hat when adjusting and before each use

7. Potential causes of head injuries There is nearly always a risk of a head injury on a construction site. For example: • Objects falling or being thrown from height • An unprotected end of a scaffold pole • Projections not being capped e.g. studs • Insufficient headroom on a scaffold Wear your hard hat to prevent or lessen an injury to your head

8. Wearing a hard hat can save a life A worker used his head and wore his hard hat A worker was injured when a piece of metal (see photograph 1) fell from height during demolition work. The metal bounced off the worker’s hard hat (see photograph 2) and broke his shoulder/collar bone in several places.  He could easily have been killed if he hadn’t been wearing his hard hat. Photograph 1 Photograph 2

9. What if health and safety is ignored? A worker who was not wearing a hard hat: Suffered severe brain and spinal injuries after a 14ft fixed box pillar he was removing fell on his head. He now has difficulty speaking and moving, is unable to work and requires full-time care due to the severity of his head injuries.The incident could very well have led to his death.

10. And finally……. Almost all construction work involves a risk of head injury. Keep it safe. Wear your hard hat