Helmet history

Another name for a safety helmet that is used to protect the wearer’s head from injury due to falling objects or obstacles is a helmet. They are used in places like mines, construction sites, and by highway maintenance crews. The first civilian helmet is rumored to have been designed by Franz Kafka (1883-1924), the German author. He worked for the Worker’s Accident Insurance Institute. The first patented safety helmet was made from glue and vaporized canvas. It was painted black.

The helmets arise

The first two construction sites where workers had to wear safety helmets were the Hoover Dam project in 1931 and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in Northern California in 1933. Today, all construction workers and site visitors should use protection.

Leather

ED Bullard designed the first safety helmets. His first efforts were made with leather in 1898. Aluminum was the material of choice in the late 1930s, in addition to electrical use. In the 1940s, fiberglass was used primarily. Starting in the 1950s, thermoplastics came to dominate because they could be economically and easily molded using applied heat. Modern safety helmets are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or advanced engineering resins, including polyetherimide (PEI).

Helmet physics

Modern safety helmets have a built-in suspension system that incorporates an air cushion between the wearer’s head and the top of the helmet. The suspension distributes the weight of the hat over the entire surface of the head and the air cushion provides additional protection against impact with hard surfaces or falling objects. Cap-style helmets, with a baseball-style brim, have a trim around the edge that directs water towards the front of the cap and not towards the back of the wearer’s neck.

Protection

Different hat styles provide different types of comfort and protection. And, with so many different colors to choose from, the safety helmet is also a fashion statement. The smooth dome slotted lid, for example, protects the user from small objects that fall like pieces of plaster from the ceiling. It is also suitable for working with electricity due to its dielectric properties.

Popular

One of the most popular styles has V-shaped ridges on top. They come with three or four different suspension systems and a variety of colors. This model comes in children’s and women’s sizes, although there are fewer colors to choose from. In addition to the cap style, there are models whose brim wraps the entire circumference of the hat. This edge catches falling objects and snow and keeps sunlight out of the user’s eyes. A glow-in-the-dark model is useful for working in dark conditions. There are even tough cowboy hats, for the cowboy who wants to protect his head while riding through the wild prairie.

Safety precautions

There are several different types of accessories that can be attached to safety helmets. Jackhammer operators often wear ear protection, while welders wear a safety visor to keep sparks out of their eyes. Face shields are often used to protect the face from the blows of an object to the front of the head, as well as to the back. Cameras, radios and pagers can also be connected to help the user communicate with the outside world.