Head Protection
OSHA Compliant Head Protection
A hard hat is a common personal protective equipment designed to protect the wearer from contact with a sharp, stationary object, falling debris, and electrical shock. Shipbuilders require protection from all three threats which requires workers to wear a General, Class G Hard Hat. Standard Number 1915.155 outlines minimum effective standards for head protection. Hard Hats that do not meet any one standard are not in compliance. Some subsections refer to standards set by American National Standards Institute, ANSI. OSHA Regulation 1915.155(a)(2) says that employers must compel employees to wear head protection if they may have been shocked if not wearing the hard hat. This regulation is one reason that power-line workers wear hard hats. Other workers can choose a hard hat that is comfortable and meets their site's safety requirements.