How Often Should You Replace Your Hard Hat

The hard hat – if you work in the construction industry, it’s one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you’ll need. It’s crucial – and legally required in some situations – that you and your co-workers are protected from injuries caused by falling objects or collisions with stationary objects. But how often do you need to replace it to ensure full safety? And when you do replace this vital piece of protective equipment, what issues do you need to consider?

Hard hat requirements

The law is very clear. Employers are required to provide hard hats to employees and ensure they are worn whenever there is any risk of a head injury. If the hard hat is damaged, it must be thrown away and – despite sounding obvious – hard hats must fit the person and be worn correctly.

Another issue is the type of hard hat. For use in the UK, hard hats need to be produced to BS EN 397 standards, so employers should always buy from a reputable supplier. Even though it sounds farfetched, there are quite a lot of ‘fake hard hats’ available.

So how long before replacing?

Based on the legal requirements, a hard hat should be replaced when damaged. This includes impact from heavy or sharp objects as well as being exposed to chemicals.

So does this mean you don’t need to replace it if it’s in good condition? In short – no, it doesn’t. You still need to replace your hard hat every 3 years or so – 5 years at most – even if it hasn’t been damaged, as the material can deteriorate over time and become ineffective.

*As a side note, it’s also good practice to avoid using adhesive labels or marker pens to write on hard hats, as this can cause the material to deteriorate.

It might also be useful for you to know that your hard hat should have the ‘manufactured on’ date stamped inside. You can use this as a guide for the point at which your 3-5 years has begun. So although you might have only been wearing it for 3 years, the storage time prior to this will contribute to the deterioration of the material.

Time to replace

If you need to replace your hard hat, take a look at our range of safety helmets and accessories. We stock the best products at the best prices. And if you have any questions about our head protection range, please give our dedicated team a call today on 01706 365 943. A more comprehensive review of hard hat requirements is available through the NBS website.