Construction Industry Adoption
Contractor and Owner programs, requirements, newsletters, and articles featuring industry information regarding the movement towards helmets
Selection and Practical Use of Head Protection in the Construction Industry
| The Center for Construction Research & Planning
This session will explore the practical application of concepts discussed previously, including the use of head protection to prevent TBIs, how to select appropriate headgear, and information covered in the standards.
You will hear from various representatives on how they have incorporated head protection into their overall struck-by prevention programs and how they have handled the current transition many are making from traditional hardhats to safety helmets as well as challenges that might arise.
We will also explore limitations to the current standards, research that still needs to be done, and factors that should be considered from the employees’ perspective when making decisions about head protection on the job.
Tulsa-Based Construction Company Using Safety Helmets, Hopes Others Adopt Them
Tulsa based Flintco has adopted a new standard for the most basic construction safety gear: the hard hat. Flintco employees nationwide wear an updated safety helmet with a chin strap, that offers better protection from impacts on the side.
HARD HATS TO HELMETS: Moving Into the Safety Zone
Let’s face it: Wearing helmets instead of traditional hard hats on a construction site could look a little odd. Some wearers may feel that a helmet doesn’t quite give off “macho” construction worker vibes. But owners, safety managers and workers may want to consider switching from hard hats to helmets to go from the comfort zone to the safety zone.
From Hard Hats to Helmets: The History & Future of Head Protection
HISTORICAL INDUSTRIAL USE of helmets can be traced to Polish salt mines in the early 1500s. Workers needed protection from salt blocks tumbling down from above their heads (Hanik, 1988). In addition, Cornish tin and copper miners wore hats made of leather or felt hardened with resin to protect the worker’s head (Simpson, 1996). These early helmets also helped create today’s standards for head protection.
Head Protection Demonstration | Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA)
Dropped objects are a leading cause of construction site injuries and death. From 30 ft up a dropped object is moving with incredible force and velocity creating an impact greater than the weight of the object.
ENR | Anti-Concussion Technology: The Helmet on Your Head
In December, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it was replacing traditional hardhats for its employees with ANSI-Z89.1-certified Type II safety helmets when they work on sites.
New Safety Helmet – The Transatlantic Middle East District Leads USACE in Protecting its People
Appleton-based Boldt recently switched from the iconic hard hat to new impact-resistant helmets for its workers to address traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the construction industry.
Upgrading Safety: From Hardhats to Helmets | WEBCOR
Webcor has adopted advanced helmets with chin straps to enhance head protection for their workers, inspired by the significant benefits observed in preventing serious injuries. Leadership’s example and positive experiences, such as a project engineer’s fall and a cement mason’s ladder accident, demonstrated the helmets’ effectiveness, leading to widespread adoption across their job sites.
To address traumatic brain injuries, Boldt switches from hard hats to helmets
Appleton-based Boldt recently switched from the iconic hard hat to new impact-resistant helmets for its workers to address traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the construction industry.
Hensel Phelps | Hard Hats to Helmets
“Beginning January 1, 2024 all Hensel Phelps employees will switch to helmet-style head protection.
At Hensel Phelps, our culture pushes us to always come up with new and better ways of doing things; a culture where our employees have the best experience. This is only possible when we do what’s right and take care of our employees’ well-being.”
Prevent+Ed: Take Care of Your People
John Gaal, Joseph Whiteman, and Scott Greenhaus join us this week to discuss their knowledge of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), an issue responsible for 25% of fatalities in the construction industry. The trio shares the importance of having good coping mechanisms, improving physical and mental health, and setting new standards for wearing safety helmets.
Real Clear Policy: An Unlikely Alliance
Management and Employees Joining Together for Safer Workplaces Through Replacing Hardhats with Protective Helmets
Helmets Outperform Hard Hats in GH Phipps Employee Safety Pilot Program
In 2021, GH Phipps launched a pilot program to test helmets and accessories in place of traditional hard hats. We distributed more than 65 helmets in the field, gathering feedback after several months, including extreme weather seasons. This action was proactive, to determine what was best for our 350 employees.
Construction Dive: Contractors swap hard hats for helmets
Increasing availability and better protection have made helmets the new standard for major contractors like Clark and DPR.
Making the Switch: Hard Hats vs. Safety Helmets | Grainger
For over 100 years, hard hats have helped protect workers from various hazards, including falling objects, tools, debris and electrical hazards. However, the hard hat wasn’t designed to protect against injuries from slips, trips and falls, which in 2020 resulted in over 200,000 serious injuries that required days off work according to data from the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts.
McCarthy Prepares to Complete Final Transition to Helmets for All Employees and Trade Partners
McCarthy Holdings, Inc., one of the nation’s largest 100 percent employee-owned construction companies and the nation’s safest commercial builders, is preparing to complete the transition from standard hard hats to helmets for all trade partners on the firm’s construction sites. This comes as an extension to McCarthy’s 2022 transition to helmets for its more than 6,000 salaried and craft employees.
SKANSKA: Assessing Next-Generation Construction Helmets
“There are many reasons why we are looking to improve the current head protection. The primary reason is the fact that head injuries of all classifications still occur on our projects. These injuries vary on the spectrum of severity, from minimal in nature to catastrophic. Plain and simple: changes in head protection are needed in our industry. Skanska is looking to champion these efforts through an in-depth evaluation of different types of head protection, including the KASK helmets described in this white paper.”
Brain Protecting Construction Helmets Gain Ground in US
In 2017, Clark Construction, based in Bethesda, Md., became the first general contractor to require personal protection headgear with a higher safety standard than traditional hardhats on all of its projects. In May, Clark extended that requirement to all subcontractors working on their projects.
Construction Hard Hat Upgrades: Improving Site Safety
For decades, the construction industry has used the same personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep our workers safe; hard hats, high visibility vests, safety-toed boots, gloves and glasses have been responsible for saving numerous lives and preventing countless injuries. But just as design and construction technology progresses among construction companies, so too should the critical equipment we rely on to protect our people.
Clark Helmet Requirements
Safety Helmet Requirement on All New Clark Projects Starting August 1, 2022 (mailchi.mp)
Why the Switch to Safety Helmets is a Good Decision
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) happen frequently in industrial environments, including the construction, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and mining sectors. However, the CDC states that the “construction industry has the greatest number of fatal and nonfatal traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among U.S. workplaces.”
Why Your Construction Company Needs Smart Helmets
A smart helmet combines the traditional safety structure of a hard hat with cutting-edge technology to create a safer helmet that’s brimming with features to boost productivity, efficiency and effectiveness.