Posted By Steve Garnett There is a new guidance out that looks at loading of steel etc and as good practice it recommends hard hats to be worn. This might prove a good source of reference. In my humble opinion I would favour wearing hard-hat's in this type of work.

Posted By Stuart Nagle Martin. I have experience of factory work where overhead cranes are employed for moving steel bogies and other equipment when maintenance operations are being undertaken. It was not previously the practice to wear any headgear in these locations, on a production line, but when operating the equipment employees on the production line were under and directly in the danger area of the lifting operations. The regs state that all persons should be cleared from the lifting zone unless directly involved in the lufting operation - not possible in this case as had to man the production line. Quite obviously, in any operation no one wants anything to fall, but it could happen and in most instances, where it contacts a person there will be injury or fatality. The wearing of hard hats during operations is mandatory if you are within the lifting operation zone. If the process is continuous then it is likely that wearing of hard hats in such an area (as on a production line) should be a mandatory requirement. Where it is infrequent, is it necessary to enforce wearing of hard hats continuously? in most circumstances it may not be, but enforcing the requirement to wear hard hats when it is necessary must be undertaken. Unless of course its a construction site, where the onus is to always wear them unless a suitable and sufficient risk assessment finds it is un-necessary!!! Regards... Stuart