Head Protection

29 CFR 1910.135 states that employers must ensure that each employee wears a protective helmet under the following two circumstances:

• When working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects
• When working in areas with exposed electrical conductors that could potentially touch the employee's head

The resource Assessing the Need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (from the OSHA Office of Training and Education) also states that employers should provide head protection if working where they "might bump their heads against fixed objects, such as exposed pipes or beams."

This same manual reminds us that protective helmets, or hard hats, should meet the following requirements:

• Resist penetration by objects
• Absorb the shock of a blow
• Be water resistant and slow burning
• Come with instructions explaining proper adjustment and replacement of the suspension and headband

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