Have you thanked your hard hat lately?

It’s your own personal shock absorber. It shades you from the sun and shields you from hazardous spills or splashes. It’s pretty awesome, when you think about it!

To get the most benefit out of your hard hat, follow these tips.

• Make sure your hard hat is manufactured to meet industry standards.
• Choose the hard hat most suitable for the work you’re doing.
• Make sure your hat fits correctly.
• Adjust the sweat bands and suspension straps carefully, since the hard hat’s ability to protect your head depends on the space between the outer shell and the inner suspension.
• Each day inspect your hard hat, inside and out, for cracks, gouges, or thinning or broken straps. Heat, cold, chemicals, and ultraviolet light can damage your hard hat, requiring replacement.
• Do not carry items in your hard hat, since it’s the space between the shell and the suspension that acts as a shock absorber.
• Do not drill holes in the helmet to attach accessories.
• The Industrial Safety Equipment Association recommends replacing the suspension twice a year.

ContractorHelpers.com is a service of Insurance Partners, Inc., which has been providing quality protection for contractors for more than 35 years. California contractors insurance specialists work with companies on everything from California general liability and California workers compensation insurance to contractor bonds and a “pay as you sell” liability insurance program designed especially for homebuilders. If you have questions about your contractor insurance coverage, contact us.