Hard Hats

A hard hat is a protective helmet that is worn in industrial and construction areas. The purpose of the hard hat is to protect the wearer from heavy falling objects that could damage the head and skull. Most hard hats are made from hardened plastic, though they have been made of metal and fiberglass in the past.

The hard hat has been in use since 1918. At first it was optional to wear. The Golden Gate Bridge construction in 1933 was the first operation to require the use of hard hats. Most industrial areas now require the wearing of hard hats at all times while on the job site, for safety and legal purposes.

Hard hats can be equipped with a variety of attachments. They can have visors, chin straps, ear protectors, cameras, walkie-talkies and more. As plastics became more advanced, hard hats were created with vents to add air flow around the head.

Hard Hats have an adjustable suspension inside. This allows the wearer to fit the hard hat to his own head. The suspension creates a couple inches of airspace inside the helmet, giving some room for impact to spread and not damage the skull. The shape of the helmet also assists in spreading impact forces and protecting the head.