Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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2.. Class. B. now. Class. E:. Choose. Class. B. helmets. if. employees. are. engaged.
in. electrical. work.. They. protect. against. falling. objects. and. high-voltage.
shocks.and.burns.
.
3.. Class. C. now. Class. C:. Designed. for. comfort,. these. lightweight. helmets.
offer.limited.protection..They.protect.workers.from.bumping.against.ixed.
objects.but.do.not.protect.against.falling.objects.or.electric.shock.
Look.at.the.inside.of.any.protective.helmet.being.considered.for.employees,.and.a.
label.should.be.seen.showing.the.manufacturer's.name,.the.ANSI.standard.it.meets,.
and. its. class.. Figure 24.5. shows. the. basic. design. of. hard. hats.. Each. kind. of. pro-
tective. helmet. is. designed. to. protect. against. speciic. hazards.. By. completing. the.
.previous. hazard. assessment. outlined,. identify. the. speciic. workplace. hazards. that.
pose.a.threat.to.employees'.heads.
Issuing.appropriate.head.protection.to.employees.is.a.major.irst.step.but.employ-
ers.must.make.sure.that.the.hard.hats.continue.to.provide.suficient.protection.for.
employees..Do.this.by.training.employees.in.the.proper.use.and.maintenance.of.hard.
hats,.including.daily.inspection.of.them..If.employees.identify.any.defects.(e.g.,.the.
suspension. system. shows. signs. of. deterioration. such. as. cracking,. tearing,. or. fray-
ing),.then.remove.the.hard.hats.from.service..Also.remove.protective.headwear.if.the.
suspension.system.no.longer.holds.the.shell.from.1.to.1
1
/
4
.inches.(2.54.to.3.18.centi-
meters).away.from.the.employee's.head;.if.the.brim.or.shell.is.cracked,.perforated,.or.
deformed;.or.if.the.brim.or.shell.shows.signs.of.exposure.to.heat,.chemicals,.ultra-
violet.light,.or.other.radiation,.which.may.appear.as.loss.of.surface.gloss,.chalking,.
or.laking.(a.sign.of.advanced.deterioration).
In.speciic.situations,.a.chin.strap.must.be.provided.for.the.protective.helmets.worn.
by.employees..For.example,.this.type.of.helmet.must.be.used.to.protect.employees.
working.at.elevated.levels,.whether.in.an.aerial.lift,.at.the.edge.of.a.pit,.or.around.
helicopters..The.chin.straps.should.be.designed.to.prevent.the.hard.hats.from.being.
bumped.off.the.employees'.heads.
Long.hair.(longer.than.4.inches).can.be.drawn.into.machine.parts.such.as.chains,.
belts,.rotating.devices,.suction.devices,.and.blowers..Hair.may.even.be.drawn.into.
machines. otherwise. guarded. with. mesh.. Although. employees. are. not. required. to.
cut.their.hair,.they.must.be.required.to.cover.and.protect.their.hair.with.bandanas,.
hair.nets,.turbans,.soft.caps,.or.the.like..These.items,.however,.must.not.themselves.
present.a.hazard.
Paints,.paint.thinners,.and.some.cleaning.agents.can.weaken.the.shell.of.the.hard.
hat. and. may. eliminate. electrical. resistance.. Consult. the. helmet. manufacturer. for.
information.on.the.effects.of.paint.and.cleaning.materials.on.their.hard.hats..Keep.in.
mind.that.paint.and.stickers.can.also.hide.signs.of.deterioration.in.the.hard.hat.shell..
Limit.their.use.
Ultraviolet. light. and. extreme. heat,. such. as. that. generated. by. sunlight,. can.
reduce.the.strength.of.hard.hats..Therefore,.employees.should.not.store.or.trans-
port.hard.hats.on.the.rear-window.shelves.of.automobiles.or.otherwise.in.direct.
sunlight..It.is.thus.very.important.that.workers.be.trained.to.maintain.and.care.for.
their. head. protection.. Instruct. employees. to. clean. their. protective. helmets. peri-
odically.by.immersing.them.for.1.minute.in.hot.(approximately.140°F,.or.60°C).
