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FEATURE
THE CONCEPT of a hard hat
is something that is by no
means a modern invention.
Way back in 1882,
Centurion (then known as
The Patented Pulp Manufacturing Co.)
developed the earliest version of the
modern-day helmet. Initially produced
to protect miners, the helmets were
made from pulped tree roots, which
were then lacquered to produce a hard,
waterproof shell.
Archaeological evidence, however,
reveals that head protection – in one
form or another – has been around
since before 2500 BC. Rather than the
more modern concept of protection
from accidental injury, the first forms of
helmets were likely developed to
protect the wearer in battle. In fact,
archaeologists have found evidence of
helmets made from a huge variety of
materials, including copper, leather and
even boar tusks.
Despite this rich history, it wasn’t until
1954 that the first formal standard for
hard hats – the Light-Duty Safety
Helmet Standard – was introduced in
the UK. This global first was a huge
result achieved, at least in part, by the
hard work and dedication of Australian
neurosurgeon Sir Hugh Cairns. Cairns
had researched brain injuries and
campaigned for the formalisation of
standards since the death of the
infamous T.E. Lawrence, who achieved
international fame under the moniker
‘Lawrence of Arabia’.
In 1935, Lawrence was injured in a
motorcycle accident and died of his
injuries six days later, aged just 46.
Cairns was adamant that if Lawrence
had been wearing a helmet, the
accident would not necessarily have
proved fatal. He worked tirelessly on his
research, which was subsequently
published in 1941 in the British Medical
Journal. This all led to the first
motorcycle standard in 1952, which was
followed two years later by the first
hard-hat standard.
A legacy standard, made to last
Cairns’ work has left a lasting legacy,
both in motorsports and in industrial
PPE and is the origin of the modern-day
standards for hard hats, the most
common of which is EN 397. Testing for
this standard is focused on ensuring
the wearer is protected from falling
objects: a linear force is directed onto a
helmet from height. In most instances,
the helmet remains intact, thereby
proving its effectiveness.
Having rigorous, reliable and well-researched
standards in place is vital,
both for safety and for reassurance. By
ensuring that products adhere to set
standards, the wearer is able to see at a
glance that their helmet is guaranteed
to provide the correct level of
protection and thus mitigate the risks
associated with their role.
However, it has been clear that EN 397
has needed to change for several years.
Design restrictions perpetuated by the
standard have held back technological
advances in helmets that could add
style and comfort for the wearer and –
most importantly of all – provide
additional layers of protection.
Reducing the
risk of rotational
head injury
Already relatively common in the sports market,
Multi-directional Impact Protection System
technology is now available in an industrial safety
helmet. Chris Tidy looks at the importance of
mitigating rotational brain-injury risk
Having
rigorous,
reliable and
well-researched
standards in
place is vital,
both for safety
and for
reassurance
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