What Does
Type II Hard Hat Mean?
Type II hard hats are the most commonly used hard hats. They are one of two types of hard hats classified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the protection of workers against head injury.
According to ANSI Z89.1, Type II hard hats are designed to protect workers from lateral impact to the front, back, side, and top of the head.
Type II hard hats are required protective equipment for those who work around moving equipment or material where there is a possibility of receiving a side blow to the head (e.g. from the sharp edge of a metal beam).
Safeopedia Explains Type II Hard Hat
Industrial hard hats absorb the impact of blows to the head. In addition to this, they also provide insulation against electric shocks, resist water, burn slowly, and shield the scalp, face, neck, and shoulders.
A hard hat's "type" refers to a designation outlined in the ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 standard. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standard 29 CFR1910.135, employees working in areas where there is a possibility of head injury from falling or flying objects, electric shock, and burns shall be protected by protective helmets. OSHA does not specify any criteria for hard hats but requires compliance with ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 (R2019).
Types and Classes of Hard Hats
ANSI Z89.1 divides hard hats into two types: Type I and Type II. It also divides hard hats into classes based on how well they protect against electrical shock.
- Class B / Class E (Electrical) – Reduces the danger of contact with exposed high voltage electrical conductors and can withstand up to 20,000 volts of electricity, and reduces the impact force of falling objects
- Class A / Class G (General) – Reduces the danger of contact with exposed low voltage electrical conductors and can withstand up to 2,200 volts of electricity, and reduces the impact force of falling objects
- Class C (Conductive) – Reduces the impact force of falling objects but offer no protection from electric shock
Some Type II hard hats include the following:
- Type II Class E, Side, and top protecting full-brim hard hats – These are used where swinging objects such as hooks and chains pose a hazard. It provides protection against vertical and angles impact up to 60 degrees. The full brim also protects the eyes by reducing glare.
- Type II Class E, Side, and top protecting front-brim hard hats – The front brim in these hard hats reduces the glare and protects the eyes and face from bright sunlight. They provide protection from vertical and angles impacts up to 60 degrees.