ATSSA Signal September October 2020

The Signal | September/October 2020 17 Innovation Head protection leaps into 21st century Construction firms, DOTs move to bike-style helmets for broader protection The hard hat is a ubiquitous symbol of safety in construction zones. But it provides a lower level of head protec - tion frommulti-directional impacts than the helmetsmany parents place on their kids when they get on a bicycle. While hard hats are made to protect from the impact of objects falling from above—with some approved models only offering protection over a 2-square- inch portion of the crown of the head— the risks roadway workers face are far more diverse. Froma fall off the back of amoving truck, to the impact from a cone sent flying by anerrantmotorist, individuals in roadway work zones are up against injury risks that come from many more directions than just above their heads. These kinds of risks drove the concrete division of Bethesda, Md.-based Clark Construction—which performs work in public roadways and requires its flag - gers and other traffic control workers to be ATSSA-trained—to require all of its employees to trade hard hats for safety helmets five years ago. “Hardhatsdoanexcellent jobof protecting against falling objects,” said Seth Randall, safety director for Clark’s concrete divi - sion. “We have come to find out it’s falling employees that need protecting as well.” A growing number of general contrac - tors and some of the nation’s transporta- tion departments are seeing amismatch between thehardhats theirworkers have worn for decades and the true injury risks their employees face on job sites. As a result, they are replacing hard hats with safety helmets, which have foam padding to protect the head against impacts from multiple directions, and chin straps to keep the helmet in place if a worker falls or gets hit by an object. The Virginia Department of Transporta- tion (VDOT) is among the public agencies making the switch. As of this summer, VDOT hadfield-tested the safety helmets, and was awaiting delivery on its first order of 500, according to VDOT spokes - person Emily Wade. OVERDUE FOR REDESIGN George Stallings, a manufacturer repre - sentative in the commercial construc - tion and industrial safety markets and a partner in Martinsburg, W.Va.-based Reginald “Reggie” Patterson, the Richmond District Safety Manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation, wears a KASK safety helmet. VDOT is among the agencies and companies switching from hard hats to safety helmets. VDOT field tested the head gear before deciding to require it for all field personnel. (Photo courtesy of VDOT) The KASK safety helmet offers head protection frommultiple directions and includes a chin strap to keep it in place. (Photo courtesy of VDOT) COVER STORY By Emily Freehling for The Signal