Prevent serious head injuries with safety helmets

Many Australian and New Zealand workers suffer serious head injuries on the job each year. A majority of these injuries could be avoided with the proper use of a simple piece of equipment a safety helmet.

Preserving the ability to see, hear, taste and smell are all good reasons to protect your head, but protecting your brain is an even better reason.  

The brain is an incredible piece of engineering; however the human skull is no match for the kinds of insults it may face. Impacts with metal or cement, bricks or scaffolding, create forces that could severely damage the brain's tender tissues and disrupt its intricate circuitry. You don't have to be knocked unconscious to sustain a brain injury

Obtaining an effective fit

Learning how to adjust straps and other parts on your safety helmet for a comfortable and effective fit is essential for adequate head protection and product performance.

Multiple adjustments can be made on Protector branded safety helmets to personalise fit. In fact, there are over twenty four variations, including adjustments to allow for forehead size either moving the headband forward, back, up and down (four way adjustment) on the four lug suspension points.

Taking the time to do this ensures your safety helmet is positioned on the head correctly, is secure and stable, and in the event of an impact will perform as it is intended.  

For working situations where height or wind are factors, or where additional helmet security is needed an adjustable chinstrap and ratchet harness is available.

Maintaining company image and visibility on site

Corporate branding and reflective tape options available across the range help to create and maintain company image and visibility on site.

Protector safety helmets have been designed to allow customisation with company logos, images and allows for the helmets to be branded with a logo on orders as low as 20 units. There are various logo printing positions and colours available.

Protector safety helmets fitted with reflective tape have the advantage of improved visibility, particularly in low light areas and at night. The tapes have been extensively tested to ensure that the adhesive is fully compatible with ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and polycarbonate materials. The different shapes and patterns have been designed to fit the helmets and enhance the day and night-time visibility of the wearer.

Most patterns have been designed to also fit around safety helmet accessories such as hearing protection, lamp brackets and company logos.

The universal slots in the side of the helmet allow the use of Protector brand accessories e.g. Protector brand earmuffs and visors. Combining these PPE (personal protective equipment) accessories creates a certified combination under AS/NZS 1801:1997.

Scott Safety's pad printing machine offers larger logos and pad printing designs on all Protector ISO9001- compliant safety helmets.

The logo printing and application of reflective tapes does not affect the integrity of the helmets

Hi vis helmets increase your visibility onsite

With the increasing need to ensure onsite compliance and personal safety, Scott Safety has recently added a polycarbonate fluoro lime option to the Protector safety helmet range.

The polycarbonate material maximises protection in a variety of working environments and improves resistance to variable climatic conditions.

The vibrant highly-visible fluoro lime colour makes it ideally suited for many working situations, and compliments other high-vis PPE Products such as hearing protection (e.g. SECURE 2 Hi Vis Headband Earmuffs).

What's a "certified combination"?

Where accessories are being used, they should be fully compatible to the safety helmet worn.

There are a wide range of accessories which can be fitted to a safety helmet to make it more suitable for variable working conditions.

Examples of accessories are chin straps, face shields, earmuffs and headlamp.

Care should be taken to ensure that any accessories attached to the helmet are compatible.

Are your safety helmets compatible with your hearing, eye and face protection?

The range of Protector safety helmets are compatible with the same brand hearing, eye and face protection. Various Protector brand PPE combinations are certified (including manufacurer's certified accessories) to  Australian/New Zealand standards.

What's the working life of your safety helmet?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions asked. All information pertaining to selection, care and use is available in AS/NZS 1800:1998.

Markings on safety helmets are a requirement for certification. It assists users in identifying their intended use. The shell is moulded with very important information stamped on the peak and you should familarise yourself with the significance of this labelling.

Every Protector safety helmet has an issue date sticker on the inside of the shell for wearers to record their name and date of issue. A helmet should be discarded three years after issue or earlier if the helmet has changed in colour, exhibits any signs of wear or damage due to impact or deterioration. (AS/NZS 1800:1998 3.4)

If the sticker has not been used or removed, replace the helmet three years from the manufacture date stamp, which can be found under the brim or peak of the helmet. In the centre of the stamp is the year with a directional arrow pointing to the month of the year in which the helmet was made.

Caring for your safety helmet

The on-going cleaning, maintenance and storage of helmets is important for your continued safety and hygiene. Your safety helmet is one of your best friends on site, but it's not a pleasant object if it is dirty and stinks.

The safety helmet should be kept in good condition and cleaned regularly using warm water and/or a mild detergent only. A brush can be used to remove stubborn marks from the shell. Prior to washing, the harness should be removed from the shell to facilitate cleaning.

The use of solvents, very hot water or harsh abrasives is not recommended. Worn or damaged headgear parts should be replaced immediately and damaged shells (splits, cracks, dents or excessive abrasion, discolouration or weathering of the shell surface) should be discarded.

Storage is part of ongoing care and maintenance but is so often overlooked. Care should be taken to ensure your safety helmet, when not in use, is stored appropriately and not exposed to possible damage. Refrain from leaving it sitting near the rear window of a car as it is exposed to intensified heat, sunlight and becomes a flying projectile in the event of a car accident or sudden braking.

Your head is the most important part of your body. You think, feel, talk, smell and hear with your head, so it makes sense that you should protect your head from any injury.

Do not be complacent. Safety Helmets do prevent accidents and to be effective, they must be worn correctly.