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Occupational Head
Protection 29 CFR 1910.135(a)(1) states, "Each affected employee
shall wear protective helmets when working in areas where there
is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects."
ANSI Z89.1-2003
This is the fifth revision of the standard that provides performance
and testing requirements for industrial helmets, commonly known
as hard hats. It is a revision of ANSI Z89.1-1997, which established
the types and classes of protective helmets, depending on the type
of hazard encountered. The 1997 version included specifications
for helmets designed to offer protection from lateral impact, or
top-only impact, giving employers and users the flexibility to specify
the helmet that best meets the needs of their specific workplace.
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Industrial
head protective helmets meeting the requirements of the 2003 standard
are classified as Type I for top protection or Type II for lateral
impact protection. Both types are tested for impact attenuation
and penetration resistance. Type II helmet performance requirements
include criteria for impact energy attenuation from impacts from
the front, back and sides as well as the top; off-center penetration
resistance, and chin strap retention. |
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The
three classes indicate the helmets electrical insulation rating,
unchanged from 1997:
Class
E (electrical) are tested to withstand 20,000 volts;
Class
G (general) helmets are tested at 2200 volts; and
Class
C (conductive) provide no electrical protection. |
Changes
in this revision of the standard are minor compared to the 1997
version. Redundancy in the previous test methods has been eliminated,
with only the most severe anvil test retained. In an effort to recognize
state-of-the-art materials performance and technology, some physical
requirements for helmet components that did not provide added user
value, or limited design or performance, were removed. |
This
information is provided “as is” and is not to be considered
a warranty of product performance or as an authoritative informational
page. Due to the diverse field conditions and other variables which
can affect a product’s performance, Flame Tamers disclaims
all warranties (expressed and implied) as to any product’s
performance or any information provided. |
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