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05/01/2007
OSHA Relations Committee Update
“Headache” is a term used in the wireless industry to alert all crew members on the ground that something is falling to the ground from overhead.
The employer shall insure that each affected employee wears a protective helmet when working in or where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects. Protective helmets purchased after July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI Z89.1-1986, “American National Standard for Personnel Protective-Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers-Requirements,” which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6 or shall be demonstrated to be equally effective. Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) 1910.135 (a)(1).
History.
• The original “hard-boiled hat” (patented in 1919 by E. D. Bullard) was manufactured out of steamed canvas, glue and black paint and became the worlds’ first, commercially-available, industrial head-protection device.
• The hard hat was first used by workers at the Hoover Dam.
• America's first designated “Hard Hat Area” was set up at the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge construction site.
• In 1938, E. D. Bullard Company, California, designed and manufactured the first aluminum hard hat. Later hard hats were made out of hard plastic.
What should I look for in head protection?
In general, protective helmets or hard hats should:
• resist penetration by objects;
• absorb the shock of a blow;
• be water resistant and slow burning; and
• come with instructions explaining proper adjustment and replacement of the suspension and headband.
Hard hats require a hard outer shell and a shock-absorbing lining. The lining should incorporate a headband and straps that suspend the shell from 1 to 1 1/4 inches away from the user’s head. This design provides shock absorption during impact and ventilation during wear.
As with devices designed to protect eyes, the design, construction, testing, and use of protective helmets must meet standards established by ANSI.
Class A hard hats are used in the wireless industry. These helmets are for general service. They provide good impact protection but limited voltage protection. They are used mainly in mining, building construction, shipyards, lumbering and manufacturing. Look at the inside of any protective helmet you are considering for your daily use and you should see a label showing the manufacturer’s name and class.
Hard hats are required to be worn on the head as it was designed, brim forward for two reasons:
• The brim is designed to protect the face; and
• Shock absorbing lining fits on the head and rests on the neck area to support the blow from above.
If you purchase new hard hats that meet the ANSI requirements for your employees, have you fulfilled your responsibility to protect your employees’ heads?
No. Issuing appropriate head protection to employees is a major first step, but you must make sure that the hard hats continue to provide sufficient protection to your employees. Do this by training your employees in the proper use and maintenance of hard hats, including a daily inspection of them.
If your employees identify any of the following defects, remove the hard hat(s) from service:
• the suspension shows signs of deterioration such as cracking, tearing, and/or fraying;
• the suspension system no longer holds the shell from 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches away from the employee’s head;
• the liner does not supply adequate separation of the helmet from the employee’s head;
• the brim or shell is cracked, perforated or deformed; and/or
• the brim or shell shows signs of exposure to heat, chemicals, ultraviolet light, other radiation, or has been painted. Such signs include: caulking, flaking, and loss of surface gloss.
How do I make sure the hard hats I provide will be kept in good condition?
You must train your employees to maintain and care for their head protection. Your training communicates the importance of wearing head protection and taking proper care of it. Important information you will want to consider when training employees on how to care for their hard hats includes:
• paints, thinners and some cleaning agents can weaken the shell of the hard hat and may eliminate impact resistance;
• stickers are permitted on the outside of hard hats but PLEASE remember they can hide cracks in the outside shell; and
• ultraviolet light and extreme heat, such as that generated by sunlight, can reduce the strength of hard hats. Therefore, employees should not store or transport hard hats on the rear window shelves of automobiles or otherwise in direct sunlight.
Also, instruct employees to clean their protective helmets periodically by:
• immersing for one minute in hot (approximately 140 degree F) water and detergent;
• scrub with a rag or sponge; and
• rinse in clean hot water.
It is my hope that the above information helps support the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Everyone has a part in SAFETY, do your part, for your family!
Dale Miller is a member of the NATE OSHA Relations Committee and is the Field Engineering Manager of CommScope, Inc. in Hickory, North Carolina. He can be reached at 828-345-1567 or dmiller@commscope.com
Dale Miller
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