Between 2021 and 2022, U.S. staff suffered a reported 155,830 head accidents on the job that resulted in days away from work, restricted exercise or a job switch, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The alarming figures had been the catalyst behind a latest examine by Neenah, Wisconsin-based enterprise security advisor agency J.J. Keller & Associates Inc. and the Worldwide Security Tools Affiliation, which uncovered troubling ranges of confusion and misunderstanding relating to head safety tools, together with onerous hats and security helmets.
“Such misconceptions pose a big hazard, contributing to improper use and, consequently, an elevated danger of accidents and fatalities within the office,” mentioned Cam Mackey, president and CEO of ISEA, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
The examine checked out many components, akin to consolation and match, enforcement challenges and heat-related considerations, which have been extra prevalent lately because of record-breaking temperatures that trigger many staff to take away their safety whereas on the job.
“This disconnect usually arises from variations within the strictness of employers’ PPE applications, inconsistencies between state and federal OSHA requirements and differing PPE necessities amongst homeowners, contractors and subcontractors,” mentioned Ray Qureshi-Chishti, senior editor with J. J. Keller.
Different issue, like complacency or an absence of clear info contribute to the confusion, which contributes to the hole between notion of data and precise understanding, Qureshi-Chishti mentioned.
ISEA’s fundamental concern is that staff will use the improper sort of head safety and endure an damage or fatality.
“One of many greatest scary stats surrounding all that is that when there’s a deadly head damage on the job, 80% of the time it’s as a result of a employee wasn’t carrying any head safety in any respect,” Mackey mentioned. “The largest factor we wish to get throughout is the significance of carrying head safety and determining what the suitable one is.”
ISEA realized there was quite a lot of confusion happening in several sectors and totally different industries, akin to manufacturing, transportation, utilities and mining.
“We realized it is a large deal and the stakes are excessive,” Mackey mentioned. “These are potential life-and-death selections.”
Misunderstandings abound
The examine discovered that though 72% of respondents believed they understood the variations in head safety varieties, there have been vital misconceptions.
For example, 59% of examine respondents incorrectly thought that security helmets provide extra safety than onerous hats, and 80% believed that solely helmet-style safety may present impression resistance on all sides.
In actuality, the sort of safety head gear presents varies by tools.
One other large misunderstanding that ISEA found was an assumption that head safety is a one-size-fits-all resolution, the place just by taking a look at it, one understood the kind of security it could present.
“Most likely 10 to fifteen years in the past, that was true; you may have a look at a chunk of head safety and kind of get that proper,” Mackey mentioned. “The fact is that we dwell in a really totally different age now the place it’s important to learn the label. That label will let you know if this may shield you in opposition to 20,000 volts or not, or if it’ll present safety or consolation if it’s scorching out. That was the most important confusion space we wished to offer some content material on.”
Although it might be extra difficult now, the truth that there’s extra decisions improves the top safety sport significantly.
“You possibly can choose from a tough hat to a climbing-style helmet, and both of these may have safety on the highest of the top or facet of the top, and there are optionally available chin straps and different choices, in order that’s all tremendous thrilling,” Mackey mentioned. “It simply creates a larger burden on the buyer — in addition to the protection skilled — to know what they should purchase on the job at hand.”
For example, on a building website, not each job requires the identical degree of hazard mitigation. Some staff might have a tough hat that gives simply top-of-the-head safety whereas others want one thing far more strong.
So, ISEA got down to name out the ache factors and areas of bewilderment and give you options to coach staff and their employers on making the suitable alternative.
Dispelling misinformation
To navigate these challenges, ISEA has launched a complete on-line useful resource with hopes of curbing any misinformation and providing necessary steerage on head gear requirements. Created with the American Society of Security Professionals, the location takes a reality vs. fiction or myth-busting strategy.
“If security professionals are challenged to know all these requirements and rules, it’s even harder for staff,” Mackey mentioned.
An ongoing dialogue may also result in higher consolation and match for these carrying the top safety, as a result of there are many choices on the market — totally different manufacturers, kinds and supplies — and that can enhance the chance that staff will put on head safety and put on the suitable sort.
“Change is an excellent factor and is giving us extra decisions on daily basis in head safety,” Mackey mentioned.
