Good Afternoon,

Hardhats have been the cornerstone of construction for decades, being constantly developed and improved upon to protect the men and women who serve our industry. The importance of proper PPE cannot be emphasized enough as head injuries incur some of the highest medical costs for just one incident.

OSHA encourages the use of safety helmets on various types of job sites to ensure protection and reduce the risk of injuries. Staying safe across different workplaces is the top priority and conforming to PPE standards, especially hardhats, is crucial to meeting that standard.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports head injuries accounted for nearly 6% of non-fatal occupational injuries involving days away from work. Almost half of those injuries occurred when workers came in contact with an object or equipment while about 20% were caused by slips, trips and falls.

On Nov. 22, 2023, OSHA published a Safety and Health Information Bulletin detailing key differences between traditional hard hats and more modern safety helmets highlighting the advancements in design, materials and other advancements that better protect workers.

Modern safety helmets come with many features to mesh comfortability, accessibility and reliability. Some of these features include cooling sweatbands, face shields/visors and numerous interchangeable accessory slots. One of the more important features is the adjustable occipital strap, which allows the user to have full range of motion of their head without the helmet falling off, even if they forget to buckle their chinstrap. The strap itself creates a proper fitting piece of PPE, which has become a huge emphasis in today's workplace.

Types of Safety Helmets

• Class G-protect from impact and protect from shock up to 2,200 volts.
• Class C-protect from impact but have no protection from shock.
• ANSI Type 1- Designed to reduce force as a result of an impact to only the top of the head.
• ANSI Type 2- Designed to reduce force as a result of an

impact to the top or sides of the head.

More Resources Regarding Safety Helmets:

OSHA Article: Traditional Hardhats to Safety Helmets

NECA Helmet Protection Safety Talk

Helmet Injuries and Statistics

Climbing Style Safety Helmets

What is the Difference Between Type I and Type II Hard Hats?

MSA Protective Headwear

There are several toolbox talks on this topic in the Safety Meeting app.

We encourage anyone interested in participating in the NYECA Safety Committee to reach out to evangelista@nyeca.org.

On Monday, March 10, the Association will be holding an eSafetyline refresher course with Joe O'Connor, President of In-Tec, Inc via Zoom. We hope to see you all there.

If you have any questions, you may reach out to the Association Office.

Thank You.