Dear Vinu
Thanks for your feedback... Let me share my thoughts and literature regarding Safety Helmet with you and all with an expectation of getting comments...
Safety helmet 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 having a smoothly finished outer surface. The most common shell materials are high density polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate/ABS blend, reinforced fibreglass and resin-impregnated textiles.
2. A cradle or suspension system which encircles the head. It is usually of plastic construction and adjustable to a variety of sizes. This cradle is a major component in absorbing the energy from any impact.
The outer shell must be strong and for comfort, light in weight. 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 fibreglass shells are generally more suitable where exposure to chemicals and solvents is to be expected. Where contact with electricity is likely, not only should s be of non-conducting material but they should also have no conductive fittings penetrating the shell.
The suspension fit is of prime importance. Tight fits are extremely uncomfortable and pressure 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 provide protection to the user’s head from a falling object but its capacity to reduce the impact which is defined as shock absorption capacity. The choice of material bearing a high degree of elasticity & softness for the moulding of Cradle/suspension enhances the Shock Absorption Capacity of the helmet... So remember it's the inside suspension harness which is mainly dissipating the impact force...
Items such as gloves, cigarettes and earplugs should NEVER be stored between the suspension and the shell. This space is needed when the shell and suspension absorbs the energy of an impact. Such objects in this space can transmit large forces to the head and neck, resulting in serious injury or death...
You have quoted "If something falls on my HDPE helmet and it breaks"; if the helmet breaks the falling objects penetrating into the head of the victim and causing major head injury which can even lead to fatality... First of all if helmet breaks no need to think of dissipating the force, cause there will be a severe head injury due to penetration... So while choosing the helmet shell go for the stronger material of make which will not allow penetration during a blow or an impact... I think FRP will be having more strength than HDPE... So go for FRP helmet with Plastic inside Suspension Harness... I am sure it will give good results only...
I would like to share one accident regarding this... Two scaffolding pipes slip from a bunch of pipes and fall from a height of 56 meters and hit to the head of two persons who was standing in ground floor pulling the bunch of pipes... One person immediately dies as the pipe struck into his head breaking the HDPE helmet... The other one saved as the helmet not broken, due to the impact there was a deep dent, saves his life with only few stitches in his head... But he also met with multiple shoulder born fractures... What my point is, if these two would have been wearing an FRP helmet, the severity might could have been less... Not 100% saying that this fatality could have avoided, but chances is surely high with FRP Helmet...
Few more facts also:
Cost – a polyethylene is approximately one third of the cost of a fibreglass 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 fibreglass safety helmets - 10 years
Now it's up to you which helmet you will choose!!! I don't have anything more on the topic... Requesting to seniors to please correct me, if any wrong inputs being shared...
From India
713Thanks for your feedback... Let me share my thoughts and literature regarding Safety Helmet with you and all with an expectation of getting comments...
Safety helmet 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 having a smoothly finished outer surface. The most common shell materials are high density polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate/ABS blend, reinforced fibreglass and resin-impregnated textiles.
2. A cradle or suspension system which encircles the head. It is usually of plastic construction and adjustable to a variety of sizes. This cradle is a major component in absorbing the energy from any impact.
The outer shell must be strong and for comfort, light in weight. 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 fibreglass shells are generally more suitable where exposure to chemicals and solvents is to be expected. Where contact with electricity is likely, not only should s be of non-conducting material but they should also have no conductive fittings penetrating the shell.
The suspension fit is of prime importance. Tight fits are extremely uncomfortable and pressure 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 provide protection to the user’s head from a falling object but its capacity to reduce the impact which is defined as shock absorption capacity. The choice of material bearing a high degree of elasticity & softness for the moulding of Cradle/suspension enhances the Shock Absorption Capacity of the helmet... So remember it's the inside suspension harness which is mainly dissipating the impact force...
Items such as gloves, cigarettes and earplugs should NEVER be stored between the suspension and the shell. This space is needed when the shell and suspension absorbs the energy of an impact. Such objects in this space can transmit large forces to the head and neck, resulting in serious injury or death...
You have quoted "If something falls on my HDPE helmet and it breaks"; if the helmet breaks the falling objects penetrating into the head of the victim and causing major head injury which can even lead to fatality... First of all if helmet breaks no need to think of dissipating the force, cause there will be a severe head injury due to penetration... So while choosing the helmet shell go for the stronger material of make which will not allow penetration during a blow or an impact... I think FRP will be having more strength than HDPE... So go for FRP helmet with Plastic inside Suspension Harness... I am sure it will give good results only...
I would like to share one accident regarding this... Two scaffolding pipes slip from a bunch of pipes and fall from a height of 56 meters and hit to the head of two persons who was standing in ground floor pulling the bunch of pipes... One person immediately dies as the pipe struck into his head breaking the HDPE helmet... The other one saved as the helmet not broken, due to the impact there was a deep dent, saves his life with only few stitches in his head... But he also met with multiple shoulder born fractures... What my point is, if these two would have been wearing an FRP helmet, the severity might could have been less... Not 100% saying that this fatality could have avoided, but chances is surely high with FRP Helmet...
Few more facts also:
Cost – a polyethylene is approximately one third of the cost of a fibreglass 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 fibreglass safety helmets - 10 years
Now it's up to you which helmet you will choose!!! I don't have anything more on the topic... Requesting to seniors to please correct me, if any wrong inputs being shared...
From India
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