What to consider when purchasing a safety helmet

There are cranes and vehicles everywhere on building sites, and you run the risk of your head being hit by building materials. While felling trees, branches fly past your ears. Or you climb under difficult conditions where it is hard to move without bumping into things. In these situations, a safety helmet is very appropriate.

Choose from different types of safety helmets

You can choose a helmet that protects you if you bump your head. In addition, you can buy helmets that protect if your head gets stuck, helmets that protect against electrical voltage, heat radiation, or that protect you if you are exposed to splashes from liquid metal. It might also be a climbing helmet or a forestry helmet you need.

If you are at a workplace where your head is at risk, your employer must provide a CE-marked industrial safety helmet.

It can be one of these helmet types:

• An industrial safety helmet that is EN 397 certified. Helmets with this certification can be different weights and colours, just as they can have different types of inserts. Although they are called industrial safety helmets, they can also be used in sectors other than heavy industry such as forestry.
• A safety helmet with the EN 50365 certification is the type you need to use if you work with high voltage, as it is electrical insulation approved.
• A forestry helmet or logging helmet, as it is also known, consists of a safety helmet, visor, neck guard and earmuffs. A bump cap that is EN 812 certified. This is not so much a helmet, but rather a cap with a shell made of plastic or foam material.
• A Bump Cap cannot replace a safety helmet as it only protects against minor bumps and must not be used in places where helmet use is mandatory.

What do tests and approvals in helmets mean?

Safety helmets must be tested and approved in accordance with the requirements of the standard EN 397. In addition, they can have extra labels, as shown in the examples below:

What do MIPS and TwICEme® mean? 

If you're looking for a safety helmet with extra protection, you might have already encountered the terms MIPS and TwICEme®, which are used in Guardio safety helmets. 

• MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection) is a low-friction layer inside the helmet that reduces the risk of concussion and severe brain injuries by up to 63% in the event of a fall or collision at the workplace. All industrial safety helmets with the EN 397 certification are tested for vertical impact absorption. However, in practice, most impacts are angled, which can cause head rotation. Since the brain is particularly sensitive to rotational forces, the MIPS-system is designed to reduce head rotation during angled impacts. Therefore, safety helmets with MIPS provide extra protection when working in high-risk areas. 
• TwICEme® is a digital solution that allows you to store important information directly in your helmet. This can include your name, company or employer, health information, and emergency contact details. The information is stored locally in the helmet and can be read with a smartphone via NFC technology. In emergencies or accidents, this information can be vital. TwICEme® technology also makes it easy to identify each helmet at the workplace. If a helmet is misplaced, simply scan it to find the owner and return it. This saves both time and money. 

How do I find the right size safety helmet for me?

Wearing a safety helmet should never be a nuisance. It should balance properly on the head, while being lightweight so that you do not strain your neck muscles when wearing your helmet. If you are going to use the helmet with earmuffs, a neck guard, a headlamp, safety goggles, a visor and a helmet cap, you should consider this when making your choice.

You can find the right size helmet by measuring the circumference of your head in centimetres. Afterwards, find the type of helmet you need on our website. In the product information you can see the helmet size, which can vary from approx. 52 cm to 63 cm.

Certain helmet types can be individually adjusted by turning an adjustment screw to change the circumference. This is also reflected in the product information on our website. An adjustable size helmet is a suitable option if it is going to be worn by multiple users.

Safety helmets can have ventilation holes that allow you to get rid of heat when you sweat. If you are unsure as to whether there are ventilation holes in the helmet you have searched for on Cheap-workwear.com, this is stated in the production information on the website.

In many places it is a legal requirement that your safety helmet has a chin strap. This ensures that the helmet does not blow off in windy weather and prevents it falling off, if you work in situations where you are at risk of this happening.

How long a service life does a safety helmet have?

You can expect a service life of approx. 3 to 5 years in which the safety helmet retains its protective effect. Provided it has not suffered severe blows, or been squashed or cracked. If it has, it should be discarded. Wind and weather as well as UV rays also contribute to breaking down the helmet's material.

Some helmets feature a UV indicator that shows when the helmet should be renewed.

We advise against writing the date of purchase on the helmet with ink or non-approved stickers! This can degrade the shell's plastic, reducing the strength of the safety helmet.

If the safety helmet is to be used in conjunction with earmuffs, a visor or respirator, the overall protection must not be impaired. On some helmets, there are attachment points where you can attach a visor or helmet earmuffs to achieve full protection.

Some of the brands we have in safety helmets are Centurion, Kask, Peltor, Portwest and many more. If you need to buy a safety helmet, you can take a look at the different helmet types here.