Hard hats are quite popularly used at construction sites to prevent blows to the head. However, even mechanics should wear hard hats. It’s not necessary that blows will come from objects falling from the top. What about the sharp penetrating objects that can come from the front and back?
Mechanics might be safe from vertical blows to their heads, but the danger of blows from the front and sides are very high. Wearing the right kinds of hard hats is, therefore, very important. What’s even better is wearing a type 2 hard hat since it also offers protection from electric shocks and electrical hazards.
Although you might think that all hard hat helmets are the same and designed for the same purposes, what you think isn’t necessarily true. Hard hats are of three types: type 1, type 2, and type 3.
Out of these three, it’s only the type 2 hard hat that offers 100% protection getting electrocuted alongside offering protection from side blows and back blows to the head.
Expect to learn everything about hard hats in this guide: do mechanics wear hard hats, what types of hard hats are recommended for mechanics and why, why should you trust ANSI-approved hard hats only, and much more!
Do Mechanics Wear Hard Hats – Is It Really Needed?
Workplace safety matters everywhere, not just at construction sites or heavy-duty industries. The many roles of a mechanic involve repairing heavy-duty hydraulic machines, working on electric cars, fixing engines, and so much more.
For the purpose of repairing brakes and hydraulics, mechanics literally slip underneath a vehicle. The dangers are obvious:
1.) Tools can slip from hands and fall on the front of the head.
2.) There’s a high probability of electric shocks.
3.) The possibility of hitting sharp corners protruding from vehicles being repaired cannot be ignored too.
Only hard hats can protect mechanics from all these workplace hazards. So, yes, mechanics do wear hard hats. However, those hard hats are slightly different from the hard hats that construction workers wear.
The side cushioning is stronger and the hard hats for mechanics offer specific protection from getting electrocuted.
Needless to say, hard hats are indeed needed for the safety of mechanics. It’s the duty of the employer to make sure that every mechanic working in their company wears the highest-quality ANSI-approved type 2 hard hat while working!
ANSI-approved Hard hats for Mechanics – What’s so Special About These Hard Hats?
Hard hats for mechanics should meet the specifications laid by ANSI Z89.1. The specifications include the following guidelines:
1.) The hard hats should offer protection from penetration along with protection from blows and impacts from the front and back.
2.) The hard hats for mechanics should offer protection from side blows and electrical shocks. It’s the type 2 category of hard hats that offer both these features.
3.) The class E type 2 hard hat that offers protection from 20,000 Volts is most suitable for mechanics.
When you read ANSI Z89.1 verified written on a hard hat, it means that that hat has been tested for all the three features listed above. It also means that these hats have been tested by a third-party, not just the manufacturers.
These special features make ANSI-approved hard hats perfect for workplace safety for mechanics.
See also: Best Safety Glasses for Mechanics
How to Identify that the Hard Hat is Indeed ANSI Z89.1 Complaint and Not a Fake?
Sometimes, manufacturers might bluff customers into believing that the hard hats being sold are in compliance with the ANSI Z89.1 guidelines.
If you have any such doubt, you must be aware of the specifications and markations that only a genuinely ANSI-approved hard hat features. Have a look!
1.) The Manufacturer’s name and the date of manufacture should be clearly visible.
2.) It should be mentioned that the hard hat has indeed been classified as an ANSI Z89.1-2009 compliant product.
3.) It should be written whether the hard hat is type I or type II.
4.) The designation should be clearly specified (G, E, or C) in front of the type of category.
5.) There should be 2 arrows curved in a way that they make a circle. It should be present on the front as well as the back.
6.) It should be marked both LT and HV.
Only when a hard hat displays all these specifications that it’s a genuine ANSI-approved product that you can trust.
See also: 4 Best Work Gloves for Mechanics
Why Should Mechanics Wear Type II Class E Hard Hats Only?
As we’ve already mentioned, all hard hats are different. It’s the Type II hard hat that offers all features that a mechanic requires for workplace safety.
1.) Type II hard hats offer very strong resistance against penetration from sharp edges from the vehicles and repair tools.
2.) It’s lateral blows that mechanics require more protection from. And Type II hard hats are specially designed to offer protection from lateral blows, not just vertical blows.
3.) Three unique classifications of Type II hard hats are G, E, and C. Class G hard hats offer protection from 2200 Volts only and Class C hard hats do not offer electrical protection at all.
It’s the Class E hard hats that offer protection from 20,000 Volts. Naturally, they’re the most suitable options for mechanics and electricians.
Recommended ANSI-Approved Hard Hats for Mechanics
1.) Ratchet 4-Point Matterhorn A89 Series Hard Hats by Honeywell North
This is one of the best type 2 (class E) hard hats for mechanics. That’s, however, not the only benefit of wearing this helmet. The many other benefits are as follows:
1.) It features a front brim that helps in reducing glare.
2.) It can offer protection from lateral blows at up to an angle of 60 degrees.
3.) The polyurethane material makes the hat moisture-wicking.
4.) It’s available in 4 colors: blue, red, white, and yellow.
2.) Americana Full-Brim Hard Hat by ERB SAFETY
This type 2 (Class E) hard hat is strong enough to offer protection from even swinging hooks at the workplace. Needless to say, the full-brim design shades the eyes and face from glare. Other beneficial features are as follows:
1.) It’s made of polyurethane. Hence, it wicks away all the moisture that, in turn, makes working easier since no sweat irritates the eyes.
2.) It’s heavily padded and designed to offer maximum project from side blows.
Concluding Thoughts:
Thinking that hard hats are just for construction workers is a wrong notion. They’re equally necessary for mechanics too. The ANSI-compliant Type II hard hats (Class E) are the hard hats that are specifically designed for mechanics.
Mechanics should wear hard hats belonging to this specific class because these hats have thick padding that offers safety from blows coming from the sides. They also offer protection from sharp objects and offer safety against getting electrocuted.
The only precaution that you have to take is that you check the hard hat first before buying it to ensure that it’s an original ANSI product, not a duplicate.
