Accidents in high-risk workplaces are unavoidable. Ensuring proper safety and protection can help mitigate the issues and even face them with ease. The safety helmets are one of the most important protective devices safeguarding the most vulnerable part of the body: the head. Safety helmet uses extend from construction and mining to firefighting, electrical maintenance, and many other industrial applications.
These helmets are designed to resist impacts specific to different industries and their risks. To help you in decision-making and for familiarity with the specifications of safety helmets, here is the detailed information.
Importance of Safety Helmets in the Workplace
Safety helmets are an important part of the dress code at certain workplaces. Here is why they are so:
- Protection: The key importance lies in protecting the most vital part of our body, the head, which comprises the brain. Helmets shield the head, eyes, neck, and surrounding areas from falling objects, electrical exposure, bumps, scrapes, and other impacts.
- Compliance with standards: Wearing helmets ensures adherence to workplace safety regulations and legal requirements. It helps organisations to avoid penalties while fostering a culture of safety.
- Enhanced worker confidence: With employees knowing they have complete protection, they can focus better on their tasks. The result will be improved productivity and focus on tasks.
- Prevention of long-term injuries: Consistent helmet use reduces the risk of serious head trauma, safeguarding long-term health and ensuring workers remain fit for duty.
- Identification and hierarchies: Workplaces have different colored safety helmets for different hierarchies. It eases recognition and avoids confusion with being especially helpful in emergency cases.
- Increases visibility: The workers working at sites can be easily recognised from a distance, making them safe from accidents.
Types of Safety Helmets Based on Material
The different types of safety helmets, depending on the material, are as follows:
ABS: These are Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene helmets that are lightweight and impact-resistant. They are well-suited for construction.
Fibreglass: These are among the heat-resistant safety helmet types better suited for environments with high temperatures or sparks.
Formulated Polymer: These are flexible and durable in nature among the different safety helmets of all types.
FRP: These are made of Fibre Reinforced Plastic and are ideal for heavy-duty industries. They possess strong and tough characteristics.
HDPE: These are High-Density Polyethylene safety helmets specific to general workplace safety.
HDPE and PVC: The HDPE safety helmets combined with PVC offer high strength and chemical resistance.
High Fibre: They are known for toughness, offering good protection in impact-heavy environments.
Nylon: These are lightweight and flexible, better suited for extended wear.
Plastic: They offer basic protection and hence are used in low-risk environments.
Polycarbonate: These are highly impact-resistant and transparent helmets.
Types of Safety Helmets Based on Design and Application
The different types of helmets in safety for different industries are as follows:
Industrial Safety Helmets
These are also referred to as hard hats and are made of fibreglass or HDPE. These are durable helmets that are widely used in construction, mining and manufacturing. These are also good shock-absorbing helmets.
Climbing Safety Helmets
These helmets are designed for workers employed at heights such as rope access, tower climbing and others. These helmets have secure chin straps to prevent falling off and lightweight designs for mobility. They protect against falling tools or debris.
Firefighter Safety Helmets
These are designed for extreme conditions such as firefighting and rescue operations. Specific to the functionality, they are made from heat and flame-resistant materials. They come along with chin straps for a secure fit and offer protection to the head, face and neck. These are designed to provide extended neck coverage and remain secure and stable during intense activity.
Welding Safety Helmets
These helmets are specialised helmets protecting against sparks, heat and UV/IR radiation during welding tasks. The two types are auto-darkening and passive or fixed shade. The auto-darkening ones are versatile and expensive, while passive shade ones are cheaper and less adaptable. They impart protection to the complete face and eyes. These are lightweight and comfortable for long use. These are designed to shield from harmful radiation.
Electrical Safety Helmets
The electrical safety helmets are class A and class B helmets. The class A helmets provide limited electrical protection, i.e., up to 2200 volts, along with impact protection. The class B helmets offer high-level protection against impact and electricity, i.e., up to 20,000 volts. The electrical safety helmets are used in power plants, electrical maintenance and utilities.
Features of Safety Helmets
The safety helmets are characterised by the presence of the following features:
- Wide coverage over the head, face and neck, which reduces possible impact in case of accidents and problems.
- The helmets are made of strong and durable materials for efficient protection.
- Certain helmets comprise chin straps that secure the helmet firmly in place, making them perfectly fit the user.
- They comprise internal padding that helps absorb shocks while enhancing comfort.
- Safety helmets have ventilation holes for improved airflow and adding to the comfort for extended wear.
- They are designed to be compatible with add-ons such as visors, ear protection and lights.
- They have ratchet or pin-lock systems for easy adjustment and secure wearing.
How to Choose the Right Safety Helmet
The choice of safety helmets should be based on the following factors:
Safety standards: The helmet must meet safety standards, thus ensuring it is designed to be capable of actually imparting protection.
- IS 2925 standard is specific to India and is for industrial safety.
- EN 397 standard is specific to the European Union and is for impact and electrical protection.
- ANSI Z89.1 standard is specific to the USA and deals with Type I, II and Class E/G/C helmets.
Comfort: The helmet must be designed such that it is comfortable to wear for functionality throughout working hours.
Visibility: The visibility of workers is crucial in certain industries to avoid accidents. Hence, they have industry-specific design and colour-coding. They should also have high-visibility colours and reflective strips.
Durability: The safety helmets must be capable of withstanding impact, extreme temperatures, chemicals and other hazards. They shall be long-lasting as well. Check for the appropriate shell material specific to the industry.
Compatibility: The compatibility with additional safety equipment must also be checked before making a choice.
Upgrade Safety with Best Helmets from L&T-SuFin
The choice of the right safety helmet is an important requirement for safeguarding health, enhancing productivity and supporting peace of mind. Designed to deal with a wide variety of risks specific to the industries, the safety helmets offer protection to the most sensitive organs of the body. L&T-SuFin ensures this safety is of the best quality by providing access to top sellers across India.
Our customers get the flexibility to choose the sellers, brands and features of helmets. The quick service with access to price quotes from multiple sellers within 24 hours helps meet needs swiftly. We serve PAN India. So, connect with us now for assistance regarding the purchase.
FAQs
What materials are used in industrial safety helmets?
Fibreglass, HDPE, ABS, PVC, FRP, and polycarbonate are among the different types of materials used for manufacturing industrial safety helmets.
How many types of safety helmets are there?
The safety helmets are mainly of two types based on impact protection, Type I and II, and three types based on electrical protection, Class E, G and C.
When to use a safety helmet?
A safety helmet can be worn in any workplace with risks of falling objects, impacts, or electrical and chemical hazards.
What are the three classes of safety helmets?
The classification of safety helmets is in three classes. These are Class G, offering general protection up to 2,200 volts, Class E offering electrical protection up to 20,000 volts, and Class C offering comfort but no electrical protection.
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