Dear Vinu,
Thanks for your feedback. Let me share my thoughts and literature regarding Safety Helmets with you and everyone, with an expectation of receiving comments.
Safety helmets must be able to resist penetration, absorb the shock of a blow, and protect against electrical shock.
Following are the main parts of a helmet:
1. A hard shell with a smoothly finished outer surface. The most common shell materials are high-density polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate/ABS blend, reinforced fiberglass, and resin-impregnated textiles.
2. A cradle or suspension system that encircles the head. It is usually made of plastic and adjustable to various sizes. This cradle plays a major role in absorbing the energy from any impact.
The outer shell must be strong and lightweight for comfort. It should be resistant to fire, water, and oil, and for many operations, to solvents and other chemicals. The selection of a suitable shell will depend on the work and the work environment. Plastic or fiberglass shells are generally more suitable where exposure to chemicals and solvents is expected. When contact with electricity is likely, the material should be non-conductive, and there should be no conductive fittings penetrating the shell.
The fit of the suspension is crucial. A tight fit can be extremely uncomfortable and may cause headaches. A loose harness is also likely to be uncomfortable. The condition of the suspension is critical to the performance of the safety helmet.
The function of a helmet is not only to protect the user's head from a falling object but also to reduce the impact, which is defined as shock absorption capacity. Choosing a material with a high degree of elasticity and softness for the cradle/suspension enhances the Shock Absorption Capacity of the helmet. Therefore, it's the inside suspension harness that mainly dissipates the impact force.
Items such as gloves, cigarettes, and earplugs should NEVER be stored between the suspension and the shell. This space is necessary for the shell and suspension to absorb the energy of an impact. Objects in this space can transmit large forces to the head and neck, leading to serious injury or death.
Regarding the quote "If something falls on my HDPE helmet and it breaks," if the helmet breaks, the falling objects can penetrate the victim's head, causing a major head injury that can be fatal. If the helmet breaks, there is no need to consider dissipating the force because a severe head injury due to penetration will occur. Therefore, when choosing the helmet shell, opt for a stronger material that will not allow penetration during a blow or impact. FRP may be stronger than HDPE, so consider choosing an FRP helmet with a plastic inside suspension harness for better results.
I would like to share an accident story related to this. Two scaffolding pipes slipped from a bunch of pipes and fell from a height of 56 meters, hitting the heads of two persons who were standing on the ground floor pulling the bunch of pipes. One person died immediately as the pipe struck his head, breaking the HDPE helmet. The other person was saved because the helmet did not break; however, due to the impact, there was a deep dent that required only a few stitches in his head. He also sustained multiple shoulder bone fractures. My point is, if they had been wearing an FRP helmet, the severity of the injuries might have been less. While it's not guaranteed that this fatality could have been avoided, there is a higher chance with an FRP Helmet.
Additional facts:
Cost – A polyethylene helmet is approximately one-third of the cost of a fiberglass unit and one-quarter the cost of a resin-impregnated textile safety helmet.
Practical experience suggests the following replacement periods for Safety Helmets:
1. Polyethylene safety helmets - 2 to 3 years
2. Polycarbonate safety helmets - 5 to 6 years
3. Resin impregnated textile and fiberglass safety helmets - 10 years
Now, it's up to you to choose which helmet to go for. I don't have anything more on the topic. I request seniors to correct me if any wrong inputs have been shared.
From India
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730Thanks for your feedback. Let me share my thoughts and literature regarding Safety Helmets with you and everyone, with an expectation of receiving comments.
Safety helmets must be able to resist penetration, absorb the shock of a blow, and protect against electrical shock.
Following are the main parts of a helmet:
1. A hard shell with a smoothly finished outer surface. The most common shell materials are high-density polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate/ABS blend, reinforced fiberglass, and resin-impregnated textiles.
2. A cradle or suspension system that encircles the head. It is usually made of plastic and adjustable to various sizes. This cradle plays a major role in absorbing the energy from any impact.
The outer shell must be strong and lightweight for comfort. It should be resistant to fire, water, and oil, and for many operations, to solvents and other chemicals. The selection of a suitable shell will depend on the work and the work environment. Plastic or fiberglass shells are generally more suitable where exposure to chemicals and solvents is expected. When contact with electricity is likely, the material should be non-conductive, and there should be no conductive fittings penetrating the shell.
The fit of the suspension is crucial. A tight fit can be extremely uncomfortable and may cause headaches. A loose harness is also likely to be uncomfortable. The condition of the suspension is critical to the performance of the safety helmet.
The function of a helmet is not only to protect the user's head from a falling object but also to reduce the impact, which is defined as shock absorption capacity. Choosing a material with a high degree of elasticity and softness for the cradle/suspension enhances the Shock Absorption Capacity of the helmet. Therefore, it's the inside suspension harness that mainly dissipates the impact force.
Items such as gloves, cigarettes, and earplugs should NEVER be stored between the suspension and the shell. This space is necessary for the shell and suspension to absorb the energy of an impact. Objects in this space can transmit large forces to the head and neck, leading to serious injury or death.
Regarding the quote "If something falls on my HDPE helmet and it breaks," if the helmet breaks, the falling objects can penetrate the victim's head, causing a major head injury that can be fatal. If the helmet breaks, there is no need to consider dissipating the force because a severe head injury due to penetration will occur. Therefore, when choosing the helmet shell, opt for a stronger material that will not allow penetration during a blow or impact. FRP may be stronger than HDPE, so consider choosing an FRP helmet with a plastic inside suspension harness for better results.
I would like to share an accident story related to this. Two scaffolding pipes slipped from a bunch of pipes and fell from a height of 56 meters, hitting the heads of two persons who were standing on the ground floor pulling the bunch of pipes. One person died immediately as the pipe struck his head, breaking the HDPE helmet. The other person was saved because the helmet did not break; however, due to the impact, there was a deep dent that required only a few stitches in his head. He also sustained multiple shoulder bone fractures. My point is, if they had been wearing an FRP helmet, the severity of the injuries might have been less. While it's not guaranteed that this fatality could have been avoided, there is a higher chance with an FRP Helmet.
Additional facts:
Cost – A polyethylene helmet is approximately one-third of the cost of a fiberglass unit and one-quarter the cost of a resin-impregnated textile safety helmet.
Practical experience suggests the following replacement periods for Safety Helmets:
1. Polyethylene safety helmets - 2 to 3 years
2. Polycarbonate safety helmets - 5 to 6 years
3. Resin impregnated textile and fiberglass safety helmets - 10 years
Now, it's up to you to choose which helmet to go for. I don't have anything more on the topic. I request seniors to correct me if any wrong inputs have been shared.
From India
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