Accidents that cause head injuries are difficult to anticipate or control. If hazards exist that could cause head injury, employees should try to eliminate the hazards, but they should also wear head protection.

Safety hats protect the head from impact, penetration, and electrical shock. Head protection is necessary if you work where there is a risk of injury from moving, falling, or flying objects or if you work near high-voltage equipment.

Hard hats should be water resistant, flame resistant, and adjustable. Wear one of the following hard hats as appropriate for your work situation or one that is has all class ratings:

• Class A - General service, limited voltage protection
• Class B - Utility service, high-voltage protection
• Class C - Special service, no voltage protection

The class designation is found stamped within the inside of the hard hats.

Follow these guidelines for head safety:

• Check the shell and suspension of your head ware for damage before each use.
• Look for cracks, dents, gouges, chalky appearance, and torn or broken suspension threads. Discard damaged hats or replace broken parts with replacements from the original manufacturer.
• Discard any hat that has been struck or dropped from a great height, even if there is no apparent damage.
• Do not wear a hard hat backwards, unless this is necessary to accommodate other protective equipment (e.g., welders face shield).
• Do not paint the plastic shell of a hard hat or alter it in any way.