HeadwearOccupational safety and health legislation makes it mandatory for employers and supervisors to eliminate hazards at their source. If this is neither possible nor practical, workers are required to wear the appropriate protective equipment. In the case of head protection, it’s critical to pick headwear designed to protect against existing hazards. The type of protective headwear will depend on the type of industry, as this will determine the type of hazards encountered and the direction from which those hazards may come. Protective headwear is most commonly used in industrial construction, mining, utility, manufacturing and forestry sectors.The Workplace Safety and Health Regulation (WSH Regulation) Part 6.10(1) states that headwear provided must meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z94.1-15, Industrial protective headwear – Performance, selection, care and use or the ANSI Standard Z89.1-2003, American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection.Headwear is also required in certain workplaces other than construction project sites. In these circumstances, employers must also provide liners to protect against cold and retention systems to secure headwear to workers’ heads firmly. According to the WSH Regulation Part 6.11 (1) & (2), workers at a construction project site must provide their own headwear, liner and retention system.Components of safety headwearHeadwear consists of a shell and a suspension. These work together as a system.The shell is rigid and light and is shaped to deflect falling objects. It should be inspected regularly to check for signs of wear and tear. The shell should be replaced when there are signs of wear and tear (scratches, gouges), if it becomes faded or chalky (sun exposure), or when it has been struck (even if no damage is visible).The suspension fits inside the shell and provides shock absorption by creating an air gap of one to one and a half inches between the crown of the head and the shell. This system also holds the shell in place and allows for airflow. Suspension should be adjusted to keep the hat in place even when bending over. It should be inspected for signs of wear and tear, including cracks, tears and loosening of the suspension lugs.Some accessories can be added to headwear to protect against additional hazards. In colder climates, workers often combine the headwear with a winter liner. The liner should not contain any metal or electrically conductive material. All accessories should be inspected to ensure they do not interfere with the fit of the headwear. For example, baseball caps may interfere with the headwear’s shock absorption capabilities.LegislationThe Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSH Act) and associated regulations are in place to protect the safety and health of workers in Manitoba. Below is a link to the regulation part associated with this safety topic.Part 6 Personal Protective Equipment, Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation.Related linksTools, equipment and machinery safety topic list
