Transcript
HEAD PROTECTION STANDARDS
Head protection is mandatory on almost every worksite operating in Australia and around the world. The risk of being severely injured by falling objects, restricted headroom or falling when working at height makes wearing a safety helmet an essential part of personal protective equipment. AS/NZS 1800:1998
Occupational protective helmets – Selection, care and use
This Standard sets out recommended practices for the selection, use and maintenance of occupational protective helmets meeting the requirements of AS/NZS 1801 for head protection in building work, construction, general industry, underground working, mining, quarrying, forestry, bushfire fighting, high temperature workplaces and other occupations with similar hazards. AS/NZS 1801:1997 Occupational protective helmets This Standard sets out the requirements for three types of protective helmets based on their intended use. It specifies requirements for occupational protective helmets to protect wearer’s heads from falling objects in building and construction, quarrying, shipbuilding, forestry and other occupations with similar hazards. These requirements include the construction and materials of the helmet shell and head harness, mechanical strength of the shell and finish of the helmet. Specific additional performance requirements are given for occupational protective helmets used in high temperature workplaces and for bushfire fighters’ helmets based on industrial helmets. Both Standards above do not cover helmets for motor vehicle users, pedal cyclists, horse riders and structural firefighters. Requirements for such helmets are given in AS 1698, AS/NZS 2063, AS 2063.1 and 2063.3, and AS 4067, respectively.
TYPES OF PROTECTIVE HELMETS Material Type 1
Type 2
Type 3
ABS Plastic
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate with *Bushfire applications
Environments Construction, Building, General Industry, Mining, Forestry
High heat environments; foundries and smelters
High heat environments; bushfire and wildfire fighting
Variations Vented Cooling for high heat environments Non-Vented Ideal for dust and chemical environments Full brim Provides added protection from falling objects, sun and rain Non-Vented/Full brim only *Type 3 is the helmet tested and approved in accordance with AS/NZS 1801 with reflective tape and chinstrap
BUMP CAPS VS. SAFETY CAPS • • • •
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Bump caps are not tested in Australia and do not comply to any Australian Standard Bump caps are very effective against scrapes, and minor knocks Bump caps are often recommended for use in domestic security, police, transport and some trades Bump caps cannot be used in designated environments requiring head protection
HELMET SELECTION, CARE AND MAINTENANCE
All information pertaining to selection, care and use is available in AS/NZS 1800:1998.
AGE Naturally the material will age. Based upon industrial field tests, Australian and New Zealand Standards recommend in general terms, an industrial safety helmet/cap should be replaced every 3 years from date of issue, and the harness should be replaced every 2 years. Harsh conditions and/or rough usage dictate that a helmet may be replaced sooner.
Every Protector® brand safety helmet has an issue date sticker on the inside of the shell for wearers to record their name and date of issue. After 3 years, remove the helmet from use or earlier if the helmet has changed in colour or exhibits any signs of wear or damage due to impact or deterioration. Month the helmet was manufactured i.e. April
The material the helmet is manufactured from i.e. A.B.S. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
Year the helmet was manufactured i.e. 2010
If the sticker has not been used or has been removed, replace the helmet three years from the manufacture date stamp under the brim or peak of the helmet. In the centre of the stamp is the year with a directional arrow pointing to the month of the year in which the helmet was made. Also under the brim or peak is a stamp indicating the material that the helmet is constructed from.
STORAGE The storage too can adversely affect aging rates of the material, particularly as extended heat and sunlight exposure occur. So it is recommended that safety helmets/caps be stored in a locker or bag, rather than in a location that could cause premature deterioration.
DAMAGE It is best practice to inspect a safety helmet prior to wearing for fading, cracks and abnormal wear and tear. Damage can also be experienced through exposure to solvent based paints or markers, cleaning products and adhesives. Manufacturers recommend the use of only approved adhesives that will not adversely affect the helmet shell. High quality reflective tape, corporate logos and names can be applied to the shell at the time of manufacture. Courtesy of Scott Safety
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