Why helmets? And what does it all mean?

Words: Greg Brown

In the construction industry, ensuring the safety of workers should be the highest of our priorities, and head protection is a critical component of that safety protocol. With various standards governing the quality and efficacy of safety helmets, understanding the differences and similarities between these standards is essential for making informed decisions about head protection for your crew. For decades, traditional hard hats have been used to protect our folks, but in recent years, we’ve seen quite a change, and quite a lot of letters and numbers to decipher when deciding on what is best for our work and our employees.

Two predominant standards in industrial head protection are the European EN 12492 standard and the American ANSI Z89.1 standard. Both aim to protect users but focus on different aspects of helmet performance due to the distinct regulatory environments from which they originate.

 

The EN 12492 standard, primarily designed for mountaineering helmets, emphasizes protection from multiple impact angles and the retention system's strength. This standard requires helmets to withstand significant vertical and lateral impacts, ensuring they remain secure during dynamic activities. Additionally, EN 12492 mandates ventilation openings, enhancing comfort for prolonged use without compromising safety. Most EN-compliant pieces of head protection meet several clauses within the EN 12492 standard, but do not meet, or attempt to meet every clause, and you’ll find out exactly why below.

Conversely, the American ANSI Z89.1 standard for Type 2 head protection is rooted in industrial settings, also emphasizing protection from vertical and horizontal impacts and penetration. Helmets meeting this standard must pass similarly rigorous tests for impact and penetration resistance, providing robust protection against falling objects—a common hazard in construction sites. ANSI Z89.1 also categorizes helmets based on the level of electrical insulation they provide, a crucial feature for workers exposed to electrical hazards.

In addition to protection from multiple angles of impact, advanced head protection products include chin straps. These are a wonderful addition to head protection, as they improve retention in an impact event, and in simply performing tasks. How many of you have had a hard hat fall off during work, and hope it doesn’t hit someone on the way down? Both EN and ANSI have stances on the retention of chin straps. This stands, in my opinion, as the biggest difference between the two standards. ANSI’s standard tests chin straps at 22 pounds of force, around 98 Newtons, leaving one to interpret that it might be best for a worker’s health that the chin strap breaks free and is removed from the head under certain forces, while the EN standard calls for the strap to remain intact during an impact event up to 500 Newtons. So, how would a helmet be able to meet both standards if they are conflicting? The answer is, the most widely used safety helmets meet certain clauses within the EN 12492 standard, not the standard in its entirety.

Clauses 4.2.1, 4.2.1.3, 4.2.1.4 have to do with energy absorption, and Clause 4.2.2 for penetration. Manufacturers have moved to meeting these 4 clauses in addition to the ANSI Z89.1 Type 2 standard in its entirety. Manufacturers are opting not to adhere to the chin strap clause of EN12492.

 

We haven’t mentioned OSHA yet, they have an opinion that advanced head protection is preferred, they have begun to use the term ‘helmet’ instead of hard hat in their regulations, and published this guide, calling on employers to conduct a hazard assessment and select the most appropriate head protection for the job. It classifies Type 1 and Type 2 for impact, and Classes G, E, and C for Electrical conductivity. As OSHA often does, they have adopted ANSI language for their writings. As of the publishing of this article, OSHA has not moved to require Type 2 helmets for certain work, other than requiring employers to assess and provide proper protection based on the findings.

LEARN MORE: OSHA - Head Protection: Safety Helmets in the Workplace
So, now that we know the ins and outs of EN, ANSI, and OSHA… Why would American construction companies call out specifically that a safety helmet must meet a standard for European Mountaineering? The simple answer, it was first. Europeans were the first to begin using the additional safety factors of this mountaineering standard in industrial settings, and European manufacturers who brought this technology and additional safety to the US continued to meet these EN standards, even after meeting the American ANSI Z89.1 set. Since they were first and the most renowned, decision makers are now deciding to require the exact standards of the most well-known brands that began this advancement.



At Malta Dynamics, we are committed to providing top-tier safety solutions that exceed industry standards. As of 7/1/2024, our APEX Type 1 Safety Helmets are designed to meet applicable EN 397 and ANSI Z89.1 standards and APEX Type 2 Safety Helmets and Full Brim Helmets are meticulously designed to meet and surpass the requirements of applicable EN 12492 and ANSI Z89.1 standards. These helmets offer a fit and comfort that only comes when products are Field Tested, and Field Approved. The APEX line also includes accessories like visors, earmuffs, face shields, lights, and comes in Class C and E configurations, catering to the diverse needs of construction workers.

Our dedication to excellence in safety gear is driven by our mission to protect workers and give employers peace of mind. By choosing Malta Dynamics head protection solutions, you are investing in the best possible safety equipment for your team, and the official safety partner of MCAA. The APEX safety helmets, and APEX full brim helmets are more than just compliant—they set a new standard in head protection.


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