SAFETY IN THE PLANT
T
he human brain is an amazing thing. With 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion neurons, it enables us to breathe,
think, dream, retain memories and make 35,000 decisions each and every day. So, it’s well worth looking after by choosing the right head protection.
But with a myriad of options out there, how do plant operators know what to look for when choosing a safety helmet, and what options will help their team perform to the best of their ability? Everybody loves a bargain, but it’s not worth putting the health of workers at risk with lower quality PPE just because of its initial cost. But, beyond safety,
maximising a PPE budget by
choosing a quality safety partner will not only ensure that plant operators get a better, more consistent return on the money they spend. It will also help to get the most out of their team.
If a worker knows that they are well
protected, they can have complete confi dence in carrying out their duties. T e best choice of helmets will also be the most comfortable. T is can contribute to a happier workforce, one that will create a better culture within an organisation. T e result of greater confi dence and happiness is a willingness to work more effi ciently. Forbes has even suggested that a happier worker can be up to 20% more productive – meaning a plant’s PPE budget has paid for itself. To achieve these benefi ts, hard hats
need to be appropriate to the workers’ task and working environment, fi t comfortably and provide the highest levels of safety.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT HELMET With so many helmet designs on the market, it’s understandable that project leaders don’t know what to look for when choosing for their team. Some of the key questions to be asking are detailed below. Firstly, does it comply with the relevant
standards? Complying with standards isn’t just about safety – failing to be compliant can result in large fi nes and reputational damage for an organisation. Check whether you need to meet ANSI, CSA and EN standards or other grades for specifi c applications. Is it comfortable? A comfortable helmet is more likely to be worn than one that doesn’t fi t properly. Look for features
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www.engineerlive.com P PPE THAT
such as a fast-dry sweatband and a lightweight design. Does it look good? While safety should never be compromised for style, a more attractive helmet can increase the likelihood that it will be worn. Can accessories be added? Extra accessories may be needed to add extra protection for workers’ faces, eyes, hearing and breathing. Can you choose application specifi c
features? For example, working at heights or in confi ned spaces operators want to choose a helmet with a chinstrap and that is brimless and compact, while working in electrical environments or around chemicals they want the option to choose helmets that are non-vented, have an integrated face-mask, are made of anti- static materials and are gutter free. Why you should choose to brand your helmet? On a project site, with dozens or even hundreds of workers, hard hat customisation, with diff erent colours or logos, is absolutely critical.
MSA’s popular V-Gard
hat is used by millions of workers in the toughest environments
AYS FOR ITSELF
Top tips to consider when choosing the right head protection for your team
Managing a busy project, with multiple sub-contractors, can be challenging – and it’s important to remember that sub-contractors may be relative strangers to the workplace and unfamiliar with an organisation’s procedures and rules. Customised hard hats provide a useful reminder of who’s who, and what workers’ positions and responsibilities are. Other, more fundamental, safety
features can also be added on, including retro-fi tted stickers that enhance the visibility and safety of workers, and the promotion of potentially life-saving safety messages and reminders. Furthermore, in an increasingly competitive market, customisation, including the printing of companies’ logos, is an invaluable marketing tool, enabling companies to stand out from the crowd. It can also unify workforces and foster a greater sense of collective teamwork and pride.
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