What is a safety helmet?

Safety helmets are essential parts of the personal protective equipment (PPE). Helmets protect the head against impacts and penetration. Safety helmets are made from a variety of materials, including thermoplastics, which are strong, lightweight, and resistant to heat, chemicals, and electricity.

Thermoplastic does not provide any insulation. Safety helmets are manufactured to meet a series of standards.

Types of safety helmets

There are many types of safety helmets, but there is no one that is right for everyone. The size and shape of your head determine the type of helmet best suited for you.

Hard hats are made from hard materials, such as steel or plastic, that offer protection but allow airflow through the face mask. They are easy to wear because they do not have any type of padding; However, they can be uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time because the skin becomes hot inside the helmet due to heat trapped by its interior material (usually steel).

Safety helmets, also known as hard hats, are essential pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE). Helmets protect the head against impacts and penetrations.

Safety helmets are made from a variety of materials, such as thermoplastics, which are strong, lightweight, and resistant to heat, chemicals, and electricity. The visor is usually made of polycarbonate resin or acrylic plastic to protect from ultraviolet rays and allow you to see clearly while wearing; This type of visor is also known as a shatterproof or optically clear lens.

The way to prevent these accidents is to have the proper equipment and training. For this reason, at Pro Salud we want to provide you with the advice you need to guarantee your safety at work. Below we introduce you to the normativity by which safety helmets are governed.

Regulations on safety helmets:

EN 397:2012 A1:2012 : Industrial safety helmets that protect the user from falling objects on the top of the head.

EN 812: 2012 : Impact helmets for the industry. They offer protection to the head against impacts against stationary objects. These types of helmets are not intended to protect against falling objects.

EN 14052:2012+A1:2012: High-performance helmets for the industry. They offer superior protection against falling objects and impacts off the top of the head than industrial safety helmets.

EN 12492:2012: Helmets for mountaineers. They are compulsorily equipped with a fastening system to keep the helmet in place.

AND 50365: 2002: Electrically insulating helmets for use in low temperatures. They are used in live work or in proximity to live parts in installations up to 1000 V in alternating current or 1500 V in direct current.

AND 443: 2008: Helmets for fighting fire in buildings and other structures.

AND 443: 2008: Helmets for fighting fire in buildings and other structures. They protect against the risks derived from fighting fires.

AND 16471: 2014: Protective helmets for forest firefighters.

EN 16473: 2014 : Protective helmets for technical rescue.

At the same time, there is also a classification depending on the use of the safety helmet, which is as follows.

1. Helmet Type 1

We start with the first type I helmet, this type of helmet is the most basic in the labor market, and is used in most jobs in different areas, due to the level of versatility and first-hand protection they offer.

This type of helmet reduces the force of the impact of a blunt object thrown from above on the top of the head. This type is built to resist the most basic blows and bruises against the top of the worker's head when an accident occurs.

2. Helmet Type 2

In the case of type II safety helmets, they resist impacts not only on the top of the head, but also on the sides of the head. These, without a doubt, are much broader in protection and withstand greater circumstances than type I.

But above all, they have other extra specifications, while the Type I ones do not have a chin strap. The type II helmet has a chin strap to ensure that it cannot come off the person's head due to a force event that knocks it over.

3. Class G helmet

Likewise, safety helmets are usually classified into three models, and one of them is the class G helmet, this type of helmet so called because it is general. They have the characteristic of not allowing low-voltage electrical contact to cause a serious risk to a person's life.

4. Class E helmet

With regards to class E helmet, it is called that because it is electric. That is, they mostly prevent any risk of suffering a potential high-voltage electric shock with electrical conductors.

5. Class C helmet

Finally, there are class C helmets, these are called that because they are only drivers. This class does not protect the person from electrical risks at all. They are used for those people who have to drive or carry out activities with very little contact with risk elements of all kinds.

The type of helmet you need depends on your job requirements and your employer's requirements.

The type of helmet you need depends on the requirements of your job and those of your employer. If you are a construction worker, it is important that you wear a safety helmet that protects your head from falling objects. If you work in a warehouse or industrial plant, wearing a safety helmet will help prevent injuries from falling objects such as tools or other materials that may be nearby.

If you are not sure which type of helmet is best for your needs, you can contact us to find out what type of work they do and how much head protection you need.