Head Protection
Employees are required to wear protective helmets in two primary situations: to guard against falling objects and to protect from electrical hazards.
1. Protection from Falling Objects
When there is a risk of head injury from falling materials or tools in the workplace, employers must ensure that all affected employees wear protective helmets. This is common in scenarios such as:
- Working beneath other employees who are handling tools or materials that could fall.
- Operating around or under conveyor belts carrying parts or materials.
- Performing tasks beneath machinery or production processes where objects might drop.
Examples of occupations where head protection is routinely necessary include:
Carpenters, electricians, linemen, mechanics and repairers, plumbers and pipe fitters, assemblers, packers, wrappers, sawyers, welders, laborers, freight handlers, timber cutters and loggers, stock handlers, and warehouse workers.
2. Protection Against Electrical Hazards
When employees work near exposed electrical conductors or energized equipment that could contact their heads, employers must provide helmets specifically designed to reduce the risk of electrical shock.
Additional Considerations
Employers must ensure that all personnel on construction sites—including contractors, engineers, inspectors, and visitors—wear appropriate head protection whenever hazards from falling objects or electrical exposure are present.