How to Select Appropriate Head Protection for Construction Workers

Construction has the highest number of fatal and nonfatal work-related traumatic brain injuries, according to studies. Nonfatal TBIs are life-altering events, whereby 43% of patients treated for TBI did not attend ordinary work for five years after injury. Helmets are the single most effective tool for prevention of head injury. Over the past decade, an unprecedented variety of helmets has been introduced, differing in style, price point, compliance with standards and manufacturers’ claims of improved protection. 

To develop a guideline for selection of head protection, OSHA tasked the Center for Construction Research and Training to form a panel of experts from academia, labor, government and industry. In April, CPWR released the resulting guidance document, which can be downloaded here.

This guidance document clarified that helmet performance is not based on a particular helmet style (e.g., hard hat versus climbing-style safety helmet). Rather, helmet performance is indicated by the Type I/Type II certification based on ANSI standard Z89.1. Type I certified helmets are only tested for impacts to the helmet crown, while Type II helmets provide additional protection from front, side and rear impacts. This article summarizes guidance regarding the proper selection of Type I/II helmets, helmet retention and most recent innovations for brain protection.

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