Hard hats affect the safety when the visor is of poor quality

Several years ago, the media reported a shocking incident where "rebar fell from the sky and hit a worker's head." This event sparked public concern about the quality of safety helmets. Are the helmets sold in the market truly effective? And more importantly, can they protect workers during accidents?

To investigate this issue, a reporter visited several construction sites and checked the helmets available at labor protection stores in the city. Workers shared their experiences, stating that some helmets were so poorly made that they were more like "sun hats" than protective gear.

Construction Site Workers: Helmets Too Soft to Be Useful

In the morning, the reporter arrived at a construction site where a rebar had fallen into a worker’s head. The entrance was locked, but through the gate, the reporter could see protective structures on top of the building. It was later learned that the site manager was currently investigating the incident.

The reporter then visited several construction sites on Changfeng Street and observed that most workers were wearing safety helmets. A site supervisor explained that due to budget constraints, the helmets purchased were not expensive, though the exact price remained undisclosed. "The helmet is just a formality," he said. "You see someone give it to you, and you wear it. But in reality, people don’t always use it. As long as there are protective measures in place, accidents rarely happen. If something does occur, the helmet may not even be effective. So there's no need to buy something too expensive."

During the visit, the reporter noticed that many workers had limited understanding of the helmet’s purpose. One worker remarked, "If the helmet is so soft, who wouldn’t know how to fool people? In summer, we just use it as a hat."

Labor Protection Stores: Cheap Helmets Are the Best Sellers

On the afternoon of the 7th, the reporter visited several stores selling labor insurance products in the provincial capital. At these shops, the cheapest helmets cost around 8 yuan, while the most expensive ones went up to tens of yuan. Most were made of ordinary plastic.

When the reporter asked about the differences between the helmets, a shopkeeper simply replied, "You’ll feel the difference." The cheaper ones were softer and could be dented with a little pressure. The reporter tested one and confirmed this. Many helmets lacked proper certification, only having basic labels and instructions.

"This is just for show to pass inspections," the shop owner said. "You don’t need to buy a good one. Wearing a hard hat is more of a psychological comfort. Usually, people don’t even bother to wear them properly." He suggested that the 10-yuan helmet was the best-selling option. The reporter picked up one, only to find that the straps and cap were separate, requiring assembly. After the shop owner demonstrated, the reporter noticed that the inner straps were very loose, making the helmet easy to fall off when worn.

Safety Supervision Department: Qualified Helmets Must Meet Standards

So what defines a qualified helmet? How much weight can it withstand, and can it actually protect the head in an accident?

According to industry standards, helmets are generally made of three materials: the cheapest is plastic, which offers minimal protection; next is ABS resin, which provides moderate protection; and the most protective is fiberglass-reinforced plastic, which is also the most expensive.

A staff member from the Provincial Work Safety Administration explained that all helmets must comply with the GB2811-2007 standard. A qualified helmet should have the manufacturer’s name, production date, product name, and technical specifications. Additionally, manufacturers and sellers must provide 12 explanatory materials, such as “can be modified,” to ensure full compliance.

According to national regulations, a certified helmet should weigh about 5 kg and be able to withstand a 1-meter drop. In the case of the incident on the 4th, if the workers had been wearing properly certified helmets, the falling rebar should not have caused serious injury. Workers can check the manufacturer’s details online and report any non-compliant helmets to the relevant authorities.

Finally, a safety helmet consists of a shell, a liner, chin straps, and a rear hoop. Its main function is to absorb impact and puncture forces. The space between the shell and the liner helps cushion and distribute force, reducing direct damage to the head. Key performance requirements include impact resistance, puncture resistance, lateral stiffness, electrical insulation, and flame retardancy.