1. Wearing a Hard Hat is Only Half the Job PPE Safety Training

2. Hard Hat Inspections Million of hard hats are worn every day Million of hard hats are worn every day Most recognizable piece of safety equipment in industrial workplace Most recognizable piece of safety equipment in industrial workplace Protects the brain due to falling objects Protects the brain due to falling objects Rarely part of an inspection, maintenance or replacement program Rarely part of an inspection, maintenance or replacement program

3. Looks Can Be Deceiving Rugged looking material can disguise the need for replacement Rugged looking material can disguise the need for replacement Replace when hat can no longer provide protection intended Replace when hat can no longer provide protection intended OSHA does not specify service life of hard hats OSHA does not specify service life of hard hats Life spans vary based on conditions Life spans vary based on conditions

4. Life of a Hard Hat General guideline, replace every five years regardless of outward appearance General guideline, replace every five years regardless of outward appearance Exposure to high temperatures, sunlight or chemicals? Replace every two years Exposure to high temperatures, sunlight or chemicals? Replace every two years Inspect suspension as well as shell Inspect suspension as well as shell Worksite review is critical to degradation of PPE Worksite review is critical to degradation of PPE

5. Inspection & Maintenance Best to wear ANSI approved type I, class E, hard hat Best to wear ANSI approved type I, class E, hard hat Hats consist of two components: shell and suspension Hats consist of two components: shell and suspension Components work together as a system and must be inspected on a regular basis Components work together as a system and must be inspected on a regular basis

6. Shell Inspection Routinely inspect for dents, cracks, gouges & damages due to impact Routinely inspect for dents, cracks, gouges & damages due to impact Look to see if shell is brittle, faded, dull in color or exhibits a chalky appearance Look to see if shell is brittle, faded, dull in color or exhibits a chalky appearance Replace if these conditions exist Replace if these conditions exist

7. Suspension Inspection Routinely closely inspect for cracks, frayed or cut crown straps, torn headband or size adjustment slots, loss of pliability, missing components or other signs of wear Routinely closely inspect for cracks, frayed or cut crown straps, torn headband or size adjustment slots, loss of pliability, missing components or other signs of wear Conditions as these can be caused by perspiration, hair oils or normal wear Conditions as these can be caused by perspiration, hair oils or normal wear

8. General Guidelines Avoid reissuing hard hats to new employees Avoid reissuing hard hats to new employees Supply with new, unused and unexposed Supply with new, unused and unexposed Hard hats are designed to protect you only once Hard hats are designed to protect you only once If struck by a forcible blow, replace shell and suspension immediately If struck by a forcible blow, replace shell and suspension immediately

9. Field Test Compress shell inward from the sides about 1’’ with both hands, then release pressure Compress shell inward from the sides about 1’’ with both hands, then release pressure Shell should quickly return to its original shape Shell should quickly return to its original shape Compare elasticity to new shell Compare elasticity to new shell If sample doesn’t match or cracks due to brittleness, replace immediately If sample doesn’t match or cracks due to brittleness, replace immediately