Hard hats are a common sight in industrial facilities, on construction sites, and on the heads of crews doing maintenance and repairs.

To the untrained eye, those hard hats all look the same. They might have different colors. You might see a sticker here and there. But every one of them looks like a big, solid helmet that can take a blow so someone’s head doesn’t have to.

In reality, there are a few different types of hard hats – even more if you count bump caps.

Each of them serves a different purpose and provides a different type of protection. It’s important to understand each class of hard hat to make sure that the one you’re wearing will actually keep you safe from the hazards you might encounter on the job.

Hard Hat Types

Type I and Type II are ANSI and CSA classifications that indicate how much impact protection a hard hat provides. Specifically, how much of the head is protected:

  • Type I Hard Hats: Provide impact protection at the top of the head.
  • Type II Hard Hats: Provide impact protection at the top and the sides of the head.

Type II hard hats are tested for lateral impact at various angles. This ensures that the hard hat protects the sides of the head no matter which direction the blow is coming from.

Type I hard hats are designed to protect users against dropped objects and falling materials. Given the dynamic nature of construction sites and the high-risk hazards present on them, Type II hard hats are a better option for construction work.

Hard Hat Classes

ANSI and CSA also categorize hard hats based on how well they protect against electrical hazards:

  • Class G (General) Hard Hats: Provide protection against low voltage hazards, up to 2,200 volts.
  • Class E (Electrical) Hard Hats: Provide protection against high voltage hazards, up to 20,000 volts.
  • Class C (Conductive) Hard Hats: Do not provide any protection against electrical hazards whatsoever.

Where to Find a Hart Hat’s Classification

Every compliant hard hat will have a label inside the shell with information about its certification. Among other things, it will specify:

  • The standard to which the hard hat conforms
  • Type (I or II)
  • Class (G, E, or C)

When to Use a Hard Hat (And When Not To)

According to OSHA, employees must wear hard hats in the following situations:

  • When objects or debris might fall from above and strike a worker on the head
  • When an employee might strike their head against fixed objects, like supports, beams, or other equipment
  • When there is the possibility that a worker’s heads will make contact with electrical hazards

If a hard hat shows signs of damage, such as cracks or penetration, it must be taken out of service and replaced even if the damage appears minor. A hairline crack might not look serious on the surface, but it can compromise the hard hat’s ability to absorb the force of an impact or dissipate an electrical shock.

When inspecting a hard hat, give it the squeeze test. Grab it with both hands and apply force. If it makes a creaking sound when squeezed, it’s time to get a new one.

What About Bump Caps?

Although they look like hard hats, bump caps are not regulated by OSHA or ANSI and provide far less protection.

Bump caps are designed to protect the head from minor impact only. Basically, they’re meant to limit pain or injury when bumping the head against a stationary object like a doorframe or a pipe. They are useful in confined spaces, tight spaces, and places with low ceilings.

Bump caps should never serve as a substitute for a hard hat. Where a hard hat is needed, always use one with the right Type and Class.

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