ELECTRICAL SAFETY An easy-to-operate ratchet allows you to 11:30am: almost lunchtime


By now you have been wearing your hard hat and visor almost continuously for two and a half hours. It is almost lunchtime and you have had a busy morning installing a new electrical system. You have been on the move a lot, negotiating cramped spaces, ducking, crouching, working while looking up, and peering into tight spots. Furthermore, it has been a pretty complex and dangerous job that has needed full focus. With lesser quality head and face protection,


you may be feeling uncomfortable by now. You may feel that your helmet and visor are not quite balanced properly on your head. You may even feel a tension headache coming on. Or perhaps you have had difficulty handling your visor while wearing gloves. The visor itself may be too dark, be of poor optical quality, or be fogging to a point that makes it difficult for you to clearly distinguish the colours of electrical wires. Any discomfort or inconvenience – besides


making you feel lousy – can impact your focus and overall safety. After all, any of the above issues could tempt you to raise your visor or take your helmet off – and that is potentially incredibly dangerous. You need to be able to concentrate fully on


the job at hand rather than worrying about your helmet and visor. Especially considering the potentially fatal risks you face, like contact with electricity or arc-flash. Did you know that between 2015 and 2020 (according to Health and Safety Executive statistics) three per cent of all workers died from contact with electricity and 1,122 workers suffered injuries? Let us look at how premium head and face


protection keeps you comfortable, safe and unencumbered while you work. A six-point ratchet textile suspension is a


key component of the shock absorption performance of your helmet. It also contributes to your comfort, ensuring your hard hat remains secure on your head.


adjust the helmet safely and comfortably to the shape of your head, even while wearing gloves. This minimises rattling and slippage, even when you are working in tight spots and repeatedly looking up and down. A four-point textile chinstrap reinforces the retention of the helmet on your head. It can get hot in industrial settings with lots of


machinery, so a premium foam washable and replaceable sweatband (that covers a substantial part of your forehead) keeps you feeling fresh. Fortunately, your helmet works seamlessly


with an integrated visor that can be pulled down and retracted in a reliable one-handed smooth movement (even with a gloved hand). Perfect for those times when you have stepped away from the job to consult blueprints. An integrated visor also means it is always available when you need it. It cannot be lost or ‘forgotten’ and when it is not needed, it is protected within the shell of the helmet. Importantly, your helmet has an integrated light


blue face shield with an anti-fog and anti-scratch coating and the highest optical quality. It has a visible light transmittance ≥ 75 per cent and is certified according to GS-ET-29 Class 2 (7kA). It will protect you against many hazards, including impacts, chemical splash, UV radiation, molten metal projections and electric arc. A modern, dynamic design with a low-


profile, sports-styled shell and integrated visor mechanism also means that you are less likely to knock your head on obstacles around you. Working in tight spaces is no longer an issue. Your helmet looks pretty stylish, too, which does not hurt!


1pm: lunchtime over, back to work


During your lunch break you have pored over the plan for this afternoon’s job while your hard hat takes a well-earned rest. You need to carry out routine maintenance on some equipment. Straightforward enough. But the machinery is located in a confined space which you will need to be lowered into. Even though you are being lowered below ground, this is still classed as working at height and that poses some unique challenges. Moreover, in the confined space you are entering there is a risk of explosion. Multiple potential risks like this can make what should be a routine job fairly complex. But your hard hat and integrated visor are up to the task. Here is how. You will need a full range of vision – up and


down – while you are lowered into the confined space. Good news: your helmet is smartly designed. The four-point chinstrap and six- point ratchet suspension design allow for better upward vision and provide a secure, comfortable fit, even when you are looking up and down repeatedly. You are entering an ATEX environment, so


your hard hat is made from anti-static materials and is Electrostatic-Ineris certified. Plus, a seemingly small thing, but important to


you, its integrated visor fits neatly over your corrective spectacles. The extended ear and neck flaps attached to


your helmet help ensure you are protected against arc flash up to 7kA when you are actively working. And when you are not, you can put them on stand-by on top of the helmet’s shell.


5:30pm: your working day’s done


It has been a busy day and you will be glad to get home. Fortunately, thanks to your hard hat (which you have stowed away in its premium textile storage and transport bag), you will be getting home to your family safe and sound. It has been a taxing day, but the comfort and functionality of your hard hat has allowed you to concentrate fully on the job at hand. No surprise for a safety helmet that has been developed for, and with, electricians.


an important reminder All hard hats, regardless of their quality, should be checked before and after each use. Workers should visually inspect the shell for breakage, cracks, crazing, discolouration, a chalky appearance, or any other anomalies. These conditions can indicate a loss of impact, penetration, and/or electrical resistance. The suspension should also be checked for loss of flexibility. Check for cracks, breaks, frayed straps, and damaged stitching. And you should always check that the chinstrap is in good condition and that the face shield is not cracked or blemished.


your most important above-the-neck safety companion So, there you go. Throughout the day your humble safety helmet with its integrated full-face shield and extended arc-flash ear and neck flaps has been ready to protect you against a multitude of different – and potentially life- threatening – risks. And it has done all that while keeping you as comfortable as possible. As was said in the beginning, a hard hat is


more than the sum of its parts. It is much more than a mere protective shell. It is a companion and a potential lifesaver, so invest in the best. After all, it could be the difference between a worker returning home to their family at the end of a working day – or not.


MSA Safety gb.msasafety.com


InduStrIAl CoMplIAnCe | MAY/June 2022 21


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