Title:
Concrete Q&A: Hard Hats to Safety Helmets
Author(s):
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
48
Issue:
9
Appears on pages(s):
75-76
Keywords:
DOI:
10.14359/51752035
Date:
9/1/2026
Abstract:
Traditional hard hats and safety helmets are classified as Type I and Type II industrial helmets per ANSI/ISEA Z89.1, respectively. This article describes how safety helmets differ from hard hats, noting the heightened level of protection of Type II helmets offer against the types of head injuries most often associated with serious injuries and fatalities in construction.
Related References:
1. Konda, S.; Tiesman, H.M.; and Riechard, A.A., “Fatal Traumatic Brain Injuries in the Construction Industry, 2003–2010,” American Journal of Industrial Medicine, V. 59, No. 3, 2016, pp. 212-220. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22557
2. ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 (R2019), “Industrial Head Protection,” American National Standards Institute, Washington, DC, 2014.
3. “Head Protection Temperature Study,” Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute: Safety, Health and Environmental Services Group, https://oshainfo.gatech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/End-of-Year-Funds-GT_Heat-and-Hard-Hats_for-Construction_jlh_Hsw.pdf. (last accessed Aug. 3, 2026)
4. Smith, J., and Throop, W., “The Effect of Color on Temperatures Inside Hardhats,” United States Forest Service, Washington, DC, Mar. 2006, 4 pp.