Helpful Hard Hat Terms

Helpful Hard Hat Terms
HELPFUL HARD HAT TERMS

Accessory Slots/Slotted Hard Hats:  Many cap-style hard hats have a slot on the sides of which allows accessories such as ear muffs, faces shields, and other headgear.

Bump Caps  This type of hats DO NOT protect against impact or blows to the top or side of the head, but do offer light protection.

Cap Style Hard Hats:  The design for cap style hardhats looks very similar to a baseball cap. They are characterized by a bill in the front. Most hard-hats use this cap style design.

Full Brim Hard Hats:  This type of hard hat features a brim that wraps completely around the hat, which helps to cover the neck and ears from the sun and other elements.

Pin-Lock Suspension:  Rather like a man's belt , this type of suspension attaches to the users head with a locking mechanism.. This is the most economical of the suspensions. All hard hats come with either this suspension or the ratchet suspension below.

Ratchet Suspension:  This type of suspension has a quick ratchet adjusting knob. With a simple turn of the knob loosens or tightens the hard hat "on the go". While the pin lock suspension must be removed to be adjusted.

Staz-On Suspension:  This is the MSA's version of the pin-lock suspensions above

Fas-Trac Suspension::  This is the MSA's version of the ratchet suspension above.

Four Point Suspension/Six Point Suspension::  This is the actual number of clips that mounts the cradle suspension to the shell of the hard hat.

V-Guard Hard Hat:  The V-Guard is available in the MSA line of hard hats. Offering additional protection to the top of the hard hat with a large embossed "V" designed into the shell of the hat. Many other hats have a version of the "V-guard"

MSA:  This is the name of the largest manufacturer of hard hats in the industry.

Polyethylene Plastic:  This is a hard plastic shell that most hard hats are designed with. Hard hats are also available in a fiberglass shell; however, it is a non-stock item and can take a little time to receive.

Z89.1-1997, Type 1, Class C,E,G:  This is the ANSI stamp of approval that specifies the hard hat meets all safety requirements.

Type I Hard Hats:  This type if hard hats are intended to reduce the force of impact resulting from a blow to the top of the head.

Type II Hard Hats:  Your Safety Management will determine in what locations in your workplace area, require the Type II hard hat protection, since this type is designed to provide protection against both side impact and blows to the top of the head.

ANSI Z87.1-1997:  also changed the designations for the 3 electrical protection classes that apply to both Type I and Type II hard hats. Testing requirements remain the same.