Hard Hat

Protective hat for work

A hard hat is a type of helmet used in workplace environments, such as construction sites, where their is a need to protect the head from injury from falling objects, impact with other objects, debris, bad weather and electric shock.

Inside the helmet is a suspension that spreads the helmet’s weight over the top of the head. It also provides a space of approximately 30 mm (1.2 inch) between the helmet’s shell and the wearer’s head so that if an object strikes the shell, the impact is less likely to be transmitted directly to the skull.

Sometimes the helmet shell has a midline reinforcement ridge, which strengthens it against impact.

Colour codes for hard hats

• White: site managers, competent operatives and vehicle marshals
• Orange: slingers and signallers
• Black: site supervisors
• Blue: everyone else including visitors

Famous hard hat wearers

• Bob the Builder