How To Find the Best-Fitting Hard Hat for You

Construction jobs have different degrees. They range from building commercial properties to simple home renovation projects. Regardless of the specificity, the danger is all the same. Therefore, PPE gear is vital for all crew members.

No one should attempt to work on or visit a job site without wearing protective gear, and that includes hard hats. Learn how to find the best-fitting hard hat for you before starting the next job.

Hard Hat Elements

Picking the right hard hat means considering the different characteristics that make performing work on the job easier. A hard hat needs to do more than protect the worker. It needs to provide comfort as well.

Materials

Hard hats come in different materials. Manufacturers make them depending on the purpose of the hat. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the most commonly used plastic for hard hats. These hats are versatile and have good chemical and impact resistance.

Polypropylene (PP) is the second most commonly used plastic in the world. These hats also have good chemical and impact resistance. Additionally, they have a high melting point. If your work deals with sparks and fire, consider a hard hat with this material.

Comfort

Next, you need to think about comfort. No one wants to work a job with heavy machinery and equipment while dealing with a massive headache. Because OSHA requires everyone to wear a hard hat in all areas of the worksite, you may be wearing it for long periods of time.

Choose a hard hat with adjustable straps, breathability, and a cozy suspension system. You never want to be in a situation where you’re constantly removing your hat to get a breather. Accidents happen during moments like that.

Size & Fit

The size and fit are vital. Hard hats aren’t one size fits all. They come in a variety of sizes, and every worker needs to find the correct one for them. A hard hat that’s too small or too large offers no protection at all.

Try on a few different ones to find the right fit. Even with adjustable straps, you need the standard size of the hat to fit perfectly. Most don’t have an official size, but they come in smalls, mediums, and larges.

Style

Just like sizes, hard hats come in a variety of styles. Hard hats are available in different colors and designs for either full-brim or cap styles. Pick a style that’s distinctive so you don’t mix up your hard hat with someone else’s on the site.

Because hard hats have a lot of common colors, you want to avoid this possibility. Choose a unique design and label the side of your hat so you never confuse it with another.

Workplace Hazards

Consider the type of risks you may face at your workplace. If you’re around electrical hazards, you need to wear an insulated hard hat. If your job has a lot of falling objects or requires you to work from tall heights, you need protection from potential blows.

There are two types of hard hats. Type one protects from blows to the top of the head. Type two protects against blows to the top and side of the head.

Hard Hat Classifications

Hard hats come in three classifications. The classifications are based on the occupational hazards a worker may face. The three different classes of industrial hard hats are G, E, and C.

• Class E stands for “electrical.” This class protects against falling objects and reduces the risk of exposure to high-voltage electrical shocks and burns up to 20,000 volts. It’s highly recommended for electricians.
• Class G stands for “general.” This class protects against falling objects and reduces the risk of exposure to low-voltage electrical shocks and burns up to 2,200 volts. Those who work in non-electrical base jobs should wear these hats.
• Class C stands for “conductive.” This class protects against falling objects but not any electrical dangers. Workers who aren’t involved in any electrical work should wear these hats.

Crew members need to also consider the two different types of hard hats when deciding on a classification.

Hard Hat Styles

There are three different types of hard hat styles: full brim, bump cap, and cap style. The styles differ based on the level of protection and purpose.

Cap Style

Cap styles also look like baseball caps, but instead of a full brim, they have a brim just on the front. Cap-style hard hats provide impact protection for the top of the head but only partial protection from environmental factors.

Bump Cap

Bump caps aren’t standard-style hard hats. It’s not recommended to wear these hats on sites with dangerous work conditions because they offer less protection than the other two styles. Bump caps do not meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. They come in a more baseball-style fashion.

Full Brim

Full-brim hard hats are the traditional kind for construction workers. They come with a hard brim that encircles the entire hat. The brim offers a 360-degree level of protection for any job site. Workers have protection from falling objects, chemical splashes, and harsh weather conditions.

Common Hard Hat Problems

Because they’re not perfect, hard hats can have some common problems. Older versions cause muscle strain because of their weight. If you’re using an older hat, switch it out for a new, lightweight model to reduce the shell weight.

To get the most comfort out of your hard hat, you need to choose one with an adjustable suspension. You can fine-tune the fit on the front, sides, and back of the hat. Consider a chin strap, too, because it helps to maintain the balance of the hard hat tightness. You don’t want to deal with too much pressure or pinching.

Select a strap with good materials, adjustable straps, and versatility. At Timothy’s Toolbox, our lift safety gear includes a wide variety of carbon fiber hard hats for professional drywallers and contractors to browse.

Finding the best-fitting hard hat for you requires just one more easy step: taking a look at our selection on our website. Shop around today!