Posted By garyh Simple question, what is the position on the requirement to replace safety helmets, is there a time period (I have had 2 years quoted). If so, which piece of legislation exactly states this?

Posted By Manny The manufacturer should provide information regarding shelf and in use life of a helmet. Shelf life is often 5 years. Manny

Posted By Makka Normally on the inside of the helmet there is an indicator impressed into it showing the year and month of manufacture, the guidance that comes with the helments usually state a working life of up to five years, obviously the helmet should be replaced after any impact, and needs to be stored away from sunlight and heat. Part of the users RA should be that they are stored away from heat and sunlight (no putting them on the dashboard of vans whilst being driven around in summer!).

Posted By Makka Generally using marker pens to mark the helmet shell is not a good idea due to the solvents in the markers. However marking the internal plastic parts that actually sit on the head should not be much of a problem.

Posted By Merv Newman I've just checked my glass-fibre (german manufacture) helmet. It's dated march 1997. 10th anniversary coming up. Merv

Posted By Mike Grey This subject was raised by our employees this week due to a statement in an operations manual stating expiry dates should be checked etc. The issue of usage and environment was raised and obviously the changing of head protection would depend on these two issues.

Posted By Peter Leese Ken, I thought they started it?

Posted By Peter Leese So assuming the helmet is issued, say, 4 years after manufacture, then its total life is 9 years? The problem I have with that is how could it be monitored. Got it. Put the date of issue on the helmet with a marker pen. Good. That's all sorted then.

Posted By garyh Thanks for the comments; most do not answer my query. I believe that there is no statutory age requirement, however the manufacturer 5 years recommendation seems to be the only tangible time limit. As for some of the others posts - well I never, I would never have thought of checking the condition of the helmet (etc). As a chemist by trade I find the assertion about marker pens and so on very interesting, which I have heard many times. However I have never seen any proof - is this just an urban myth? Precisely what chemical process is taking place whereby a dye in a pen affects plastic in a structural manner? Such marker pens are frequently used on plastic drums containing nasty chemicals!

Posted By GT Garyh, I understand where you are coming from ....well I think I do but manufacturers have varying tests and standrads for diffeent industries. Therefore any alteration or misuse can and does allow the manufacturer to quicly and rightly remove themselves from any litigation that might be levied in respect of their test procedure and set up below are the Standards being advertised by one manuafacture Regards GT EUROPEAN STANDARDS EN 397 specifies physical and performance requirements of industrial safety helmets. Certain tests are mandatory if the product is to receive EN 397 approval. These cover: Shock absorption Resistance to penetration Flame resistance Chinstrap anchorage A manufacturer can choose to submit his products to additional optional tests. Such tests could lead to one or more of these markings appearing on a helmet. -20°/-30°C The helmet will provide some protection when worn in an environment at or above this temperature 440V a.c. The helmet will protect against short term, accidental contact with live electrical conductors up to this voltage LD The helmet will provide some protection from lateral compressive loads MM Molten Metal splash test EN 812 is the standard for Industrial Bump Caps, which are intended to provide protection against bumps caused by walking into hazardous projections. A Bump Cap does not provide protection against falling or thrown objects and should not be used where a safety helmet is required. IDENTIFYING MATERIALS Shells are primarily made using UV stabilised high density polyethylene (HDPE) or ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). Harnesses are made using low density polyethylene or terylene webbing. SHELF LIFE To comply with European Standards, all helmets are marked with the quarter or month and year of manufacture. If helmets are stored in boxes in which they were supplied and do not experience environmental extremes, the shelf life of a helmet is not limited. However, it is not recommended that a helmet should be in use 5 years after date of manufacture. ACCESSORIES Some helmets have sweatbands, chinstrap or both already fitted. Either can be purchased separately. Safety helmets can be fitted with eye protection through a range of visors or hearing protection through clip on ear defenders. CARE AND MAINTENANCE A helmet may be cleaned with soap and water, drying with a soft cloth. A helmet should not be cleaned with abrasive substances or solvents and must not be stored in direct sunlight or in contact with chemicals. The wearer should inspect a helmet regularly. Any helmet showing more than superficial abrasions or scuffing to the shell should be replaced. BADGE MARKING All helmets can be personalised with your company name or logo - contact your nearest branch for details.

Posted By Jane Blunt Going back to Gary H's original question - whether there was a legal requirement, the answer is yes. In the PPE Regs 1992, regulation 7: ......shall ensure that any personal protective equipment ...... is maintained (including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. So there is a specific legal requirement to keep the PPE in efficient working order. For hard hats made from polymer materials this will include replacing them before the mechanical properties have degraded to render them inefficient. The only problem now is that the time period in which this happens depends on a large number of factors. Jane

Posted By Kenneth Patrick 21 responses on Safety Helmet expiry and we say it is the tabloids that are ridiculing H&S.

Posted By Peter Leese Original question: ... what is the position on the requirement to replace safety helmets, is there a time period (I have had 2 years quoted). If so, which piece of legislation exactly states this? Jane's answer: Going back to Gary H's original question - whether there was a legal requirement, the answer is yes. I'm sorry Jane, but the answer is still no. There is not a laid down expiry time limit. I accept there is a case in following the manufacturers instructions, but in law there is no legislative laid down time limit.

Posted By James Midlake A few years back I took a hard hat which had been used for a couple of years and sprayed it with car paint ( don't ask why - obviously bored ). I left it on the window ledge for a few months and then dropped it onto concrete from head height. It shattered. Not sure if a little local marking with pen would have quite so drastic an effect though. Midlake

Posted By Phil Rose To add to the above (or is it below?) - The HSE Nuclear Safety Directorate policy is to replace theirs every 3 years - good enough for the HSE good enough for me! However, with the cost of many helmets being very reasonable I would even suggest that smaller companies could replace every year (shock horror) Lets keep the management of it simple. Buy everyone the same colour helmet. When you reach your chosen expiry date (be that 1, 2 or 3 years) buy everyone new helmets of a different colour - then look for the 'odd man out'

Posted By TBC Hard hats - I've seen them all - spray painted, covered in graffiti with marker pens, holes drilled for 'extra ventilation' don't know why nothing under it to cool. Banned them all and the wearer from sites until they were replaced. Only approved stickers allowed. It's the only way. Checks as mentioned by others.

Posted By John Holland1 Network Rail will not permit hard hats any older than 2 years onto their projects.

Posted By TBC Exactly!!!!!!!!

Posted By Julian R Davis In Ordnance Survey we are using Centurion hard hats for our surveyors out on site. I have checked with Centurion and they say that unless the hard hats are subject to any damage, the hats should be replaced after 5 years - and this applies across the whole range of their products. Previous to that we had 'plastic' type helmets which we replaced every 3 yrs or some expensive fibre-glass ones which lasted 5 yrs but having standardised on one product we are happy to find that technology has improved the quality of the hats to an extent where they can all be replaced at the 5 yr interval. To ensure consistency we then do a bulk purchase and replace all at the same time - and get a corporate logo added at the same time. Julian Davis CMIOSH OS DC&M H&S Consultant