Every day, thousands of workers in industries like mining, forestry, fabrication, and manufacturing are involved in workplace accidents. The difference between an accident and an accident resulting in injury, is often the safety clothing and equipment being used by a worker. That’s why in addition to strict government guidelines and regulations, many companies enforce hard hat policies, even where the laws don’t explicitly require them.
Seemingly a simple piece of equipment, the hard hat provides added protection from falls, falling objects, collisions, or even drips and spills from harmful materials. The most important role of the hard hat is to protect the wearer from head injuries resulting from workplace accidents.
Head injuries are one of the most dangerous injuries the body can suffer. In lesser cases head injuries may only result in cuts, abrasions, and minor head traumas with no lasting effects, but in nightmare scenarios, a head injury can result in disfigurement, serious and permanent brain damage, a loss of normal function, and in the worst case scenario, even death. That’s why hard hats are an essential piece of safety clothing.
Hard hats rely on a number of proven designs and features to protect the wearer from injury.
- Hard hats incorporate a rigid shell, made from plastic composites, and sometimes high tech fibre weaves like carbon composite fibres. The shell acts to resist and deflect impact.
- Inside the shell is a suspension system, this acts to separate the wearers head from the protective shell, and absorb shock from an impact.
- Some specialized hats can provide insulation from electrical current.
- Hard hats act as a shield for your face, scalp and neck from drips, spills and splashes.
- There are modular hard hats available, which can accommodate face shields, goggles, neck protectors, or ear muffs as they are required
Hard hats are not a one stop shop for safety clothing and equipment requirements, but the job they perform is one of the most important. To protect all parties from risk, both workers, and employers are responsible for ensuring that they adhere to, or enforce strict rules and guidelines for sites where safety is a concern.
Kevcor is one of the leading safety clothing and equipment suppliers in South Africa. Located in Bloemfontein, with branches in neighbouring Kimberley and Maseru, we’ve been supplying the Industrial, Mining, Construction and Emergency Service industries for over 40 years. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with any of your safety, fire, health, or rescue equipment requirements.
