Use of protective helmet (safety helmet)
A safety helmet is designed to reduce the risk of damage to the head by spreading the force of a blow. The helmet shell protects against penetration of sharp objects, etc., while the headband is s
hock absorbing.
When selecting head protection, it is important to choose a helmet that is comfortable and easy to use long-term. One should also take into account whether the helmet must be combined with other equipment such as visor, chinstrap, ear protection, neck cape, forehead-lamp, communication, etc.
Head Protection has a limited life time and the manufacturers instructions must be followed. Helmets that have suffered strokes, have cracks or other strong influences, must be immediately discarded.
ICM offers the following types of head protection: Industrial safety helmets, fire helmets, hard hats (bump caps), and climbing helmets.
Relevant standards:
EN 397: Industrial Safety Helmets
EN 443: Fire Helmets
EN 812: Hard hats
EN 12492: Mountaineering equipment, climbing helmets
Fire Helmets
Approved according to EN 443. They meet the highest requirements and must provide Fireman protection under the most extreme conditions. They usually have built-in eye protection, and they must be very comfortable, because the fireman has his helmet on long periods of time.
General industrial safety helmets
Approved according to EN 397. In addition to meet the minimum requirements of the standard, then the helmet can have additional approvals:
• Low and very low temperature: -20 º C or -30 º C
• Very high temperature: 150 º C
• Electrical insulation: 440 V a.c.
• Side Effect: LD (Lateral Deformation)
• Stains of molted metal: MM
• Hard hats (bump caps)
• Thin helmets or caps with plastic inserts. They protect only against minor knocks and should therefore never be confused with an industrial safety helmet.
Climbing Helmets
Is considered as climbing equipment and is approved according to EN 12492. The standard is significantly different from EN 397, i.e. there is a reduced requirement for shock absorption, the helmet must be ventilated, and there must be a strong 3-point chinstrap, which prevents the helmet from moving forward or backwards.
Safety helmet with visor
In an attempt to combine a head and eye protection you have a safety helmet with built-in visor that can be looked up under the helmet. This type of visor is not designed to replace th
e larger visors that can be mounted on helmets, as it is only an eye protection and does not cover the whole face.
A helmet with built-in visor has instead its advantage among general helmet users, who may suddenly need an eye shield, but does not have one. With the new type of helmet with visor eye-protection is always available. An example of a safety helmet with built-in visor is Centurion Vision.
