Page 1029 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Maintenance:
Hard hats must be maintained in good working order. A dirty hat covers up small cracks and
it’s very difficult to inspect. Too often, workers don’t read the manufacturers’ instructions and
they don’t maintain them. A hard hat is one of the most important personal protective
equipment that workers wear. A hard hat provides protection against concussion, serious
head injury or even worse, death. A hard hat is a life-saving device and should be treated as
such.

If a helmet has been stored in direct sunlight or sitting on a shelf exposed to heat (inside a
locked car for example), the quality of the helmet will have deteriorated. There are instances of
helmets shattering when used after being stored in direct sunlight for extended periods of
time.

Hard hats are designed to protect you only once. If struck by a forcible blow of any magnitude,
both the hard hat shell and the suspension should be replaced immediately, even if no visible
damage is observed. It should also be replaced if you drop it from a height of a two story
building or higher. Damage of this kind can seriously degrade the effectiveness of the hard
hat.

Crackle Test:
One good test for degradation, regardless of the date of manufacture, is the “crackle test”. To
perform the crackle test, hold your hard hat upside down and squeeze the sides together
gently. If you hear a crackle when you do this, your hard had should be replaced because it no
longer provides the level of protection that you will need in the event of impact.

Webbing:
The harness/headband has a working life of 2 years and should be replaced at an earlier date
(recommended: between 12 – 18 months). This is the “shock absorber” for the impact
resistance system and it is also the part that suffers the most wear and tear. The webbing
pops in and out easily and can be replaced in a matter of minutes. Check for cracks, frayed or
cut crown straps, torn headband or missing components. The minute that it takes to replace it
can mean the difference between a near miss and a debilitating injury! Some workers use the
hard hat outdoors for most of the day and since ultraviolet radiation degrades the plastic
much faster than normal wear, some hard hats may need to be replaced as early as every 2
years.

*You can refer to the CSA standard for Hard Hats CSA Z89.1 Type I and Type II and CSA Z94.1-
92 Protective Headwear – (similar to ANSI standard - Z89.1-2009).

Hard Hat Summary: Use your head! Inspect your personal protective equipment. Your hard hat
protects a great deal!