What Color Hard Hat do Electricians Wear?

If you are an electrician then I am sure that you are so busy in completing your task at the workplace that you completely forget about your safety. However the worksites are loaded with different hazards at every step and that’s why safety must always be thought of as a priority.

There are certain gears which help in reducing workplace injuries. Hard hats are one of those. They come in a variety of colors and each color is assigned based on your job. Today we’ll talk about the hard hats worn out by the electricians.

Electricians generally wear blue hats which are accepted by industry standards. The hat saves you from head trauma due to contact with falling objects, electrical shock or burns and injuries due to striking low overhead objects.

But what is the purpose of the color code, are they really necessary, are they OSHA approved? These are some of the frequently asked questions which we will answer in this article. I am sure after reading it you’ll definitely want to consider color-coding at your workplace.

Why Electricians wear Hard Hats?

Electricians encounter a lot of hazards while working at the job site. To save their head from injury, use of a hard hat becomes essential. This gear is essential for following reasons:

• • • To save a person’s head from accidental dropping or loss of material, tools, equipment or other articles.
    • Hard hats are required when you are working with proximity to a barricaded or construction area where there are a number of head hazards.
    • Electricians are required to wear hard hats in order to save their heads from overheads exposed to nearby conductors.
    • For protection from falling objects which are stored on shelves or platforms which have the potential to cause head injuries.

See also: Best hard hat for electricians

What is the purpose of the helmet color code?

Having a designated color coding system at worksite provides you with following benefits:

• • • Assigning color for a specific job can make it a lot easier to identify key people whenever there is an emergency.
    • In case you have a question regarding a specific task you know which person to contact. That is, color coding can help streamline the workday.
    • The supervisor can easily figure out where a certain group of people are working at the work site.
    • Nowadays, most job sites inculcate the role specific color hats which can help provide the continuity.

What is the standard of a safety hat?

If you have to buy a safety hat, always look for the firm hard hat which should meet the following criteria:

• • • It should be shock resistant
    • Should have penetration resistance
    • It should be water absorbing
    • A hard hat must resist heat.
    • It should be inflammable and must be flammability resistant.
    • Must sustain electric shocks

What are different categories of electrical hats?

Talking about the electrical hats, there are basically three categories which are based on their performance as per ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 (R2019) and Canadian CSA Z94.1-2005 standards

Class E (Electrical) Hats are constructed to reduce exposure to high voltage conductors. These are meant to offer dielectric protection from upto 20,000 volts of current.

Class G (General) Hats offer dielectric protection upto 2,200 volts and are designed to reduce exposure to low voltage conductors.

Class C(Conductive) Hats differ from the rest of the two categories as these don’t provide protection against electrical conductors. The hats are designed to protect the wearer from impact. Not just this, these also enhance the breathability through their conductive material and add ventilation. 

Do’s and Don’ts of Hard hat

While trying the hat, there are some points that you should always keep in mind. What are these? Let’s have a look!

• • • The hat should neither be too tight nor too loose. It should fit snugly.
    • Try to inspect and maintain your hat regularly as per manufacturer’s instructions.
    • While cleaning the hat, always use mild soap. Never use heavy duty cleaners and other harsh chemicals as these can damage the hat.
    • In case your hat has got dents or cracks then consider replacing it with a new one as these conditions can reduce the protection.
    • It is strictly prohibited to use your hat for storing things while you are wearing it. The space between the inside harness and the top of the hat must remain open in order to protect you.
    • Do not put stickers on your hat as it can weaken the hat. Also, try to keep it out of direct sunlight.

Is it mandatory for electricians to wear hard hats?

Not every worksite compels its workers to wear hard hats but it is important to note that according to OSHA guidelines, the worksites where employees are exposed to possible head injuries, head protection is a must.

Since electricians are exposed to possible head injuries, it becomes mandatory for them to wear hats. For electricians there are specific OSHA standards which state that:

OSHA Standard 1919.135(a)(2) The employer shall ensure that a protective helmet designed to reduce electrical shock hazard is worn when the employer is working near exposed electrical conductors which could come in contact with the head and cause injury.

OSHA Standard 1910.335(a)(1)(iv) Employers should wear nonconductive head protection wherever there is a danger of injury from electric shock or burns due to exposed energised parts.

Conclusion

Hard hats have significantly improved the safety of the workplace by potentially reducing the number of dangerous injuries.

Although the color of the hat is not very essential, still it plays a major role in distinguishing the people belonging to different sectors at a single workplace. It makes it easier for you to find the person in need and saves you time.