Hard hats are necessary safety equipment for most construction sites. It is no longer just a good idea to protect the head; it is now a requirement (primarily due to liability issues) for the employees of most companies. But just because nearly all sites require hard hats does not mean that all of this equipment is created equal. Even some construction workers may not realize that there are different types of hard caps with each offering various advantages for different situations versus others. This piece will take a look at some of the various styles of head protection and how each benefits the wearer.

Cap style hard hats are the version that most people would consider to be the most common. They look like a baseball cap with the brim in the front. They offer a very basic protection against most things that a hard hat would be able to protect you from. (I am not going to pretend that this equipment would save the user from an I-beam falling 18 stories directly onto the noggin.) They are typically made of plastic (although metal and fiberglass versions do exist) and contain a strap on the inside that allows the same hats to be worn on different head sizes.

Full brim hard hats are similar to the cap style only that they have a brim that goes around the entire head. This offers added protection to the sides of the face and back of the neck that the cap style does not provide. Many workers use these in industries that have sparks or particles where contact on the skin can cause burning or irritation. In these cases, the extra neck protection is appreciated. These hats can consist of plastic or metal.

Cowboy style hard hats are a newer version that many people have not seen, or realized that they were seeing a hard hate when they viewed it. The brims are extended but not typically any stronger than one would find in the other styles. In this case, it is the style that makes the style. It may not serve as any extra protection for the user, but why not look good and show off a western personality while you work?

Bump caps are the ultimate hard caps for the casual user. They offer a little bit of protection, but certainly are not meant for use on sites where head injury is a serious risk. These offer a more light weight and less intrusive option in comparison to traditional hard hats that can be a little bulky and cumbersome on occasion. Think of bump caps as the perfect compromise where style meets substance when it comes to head protection. These caps may often be made from a thicker fabric material (sometimes even padded internally with leather) rather than the plastic or fiberglass material that other styles of hard hat typically feature.

There are some other variations of hard cap available beyond the ones listed above – it is not an all encompassing list. But these represent the majority of today’s most popular hard hat styles and products.

Author Recommendations:
Article from NYTimes
Hard Hats from ViewBrite
Products Available from Amazon.com

Author Recommendations:
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/prosecutor-blames-deaths-2008-crane-collapse-a-man-concerned-bottom-line-article-1.1026411
http://www.viewbritesafetyproducts.com/Hard-Hats-s/43.htm
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=553566

Author Bio: Author Recommendations:
Article from NYTimes
Hard Hats from ViewBrite
Products Available from Amazon.com

Category: Business
Keywords: Hard hats, hats, safety equipment, construction