# Why is proper head protection important?

> Safety has always been a very important issue in all industrial activities, in construction as elsewhere.

URL: https://www.utg-vodnik.si/novice/why-is-proper-head-protection-important

The head is the only part of the human body that is entirely surrounded by bone. That alone tells us how important it is to protect the most vital working component of our body, the brain.
Hard hats or safety helmets are the first line of defence against head injuries, but they only work if they are used correctly. That is why we can say with certainty that a safety helmet saves lives and reduces the risk of brain injury.

Most head injuries can be avoided by choosing, using and maintaining suitable head protection.
As anyone who has ever visited a construction site can confirm, some workers do not fully follow the signs requiring them to put on a safety helmet or hard hat when entering the site.
There can be various reasons for this: workers often avoid wearing a safety helmet for comfort, or they simply disregard site rules because of a lack of information.

However, under Slovenian legislation, wearing a helmet is mandatory for everyone who is present, for whatever reason, on a construction site where there is a possibility of objects falling on the head, a fall to a depth of more than 1 m, or a blow to the head against an obstacle in the space, or where the safety plan identifies a possibility of head injury from other causes. This means that besides workers, all site visitors must also wear a safety helmet.

## Protection against head injuries

The most obvious reason for wearing a safety helmet is, of course, protection against head injuries. Besides the head, a safety helmet also protects the eyes, face and neck. A safety helmet is the best defence against falling objects, any unwanted impacts, scratches and even exposure to electrical energy.

Wearing a safety helmet is therefore a mandatory requirement that all employers must comply with under the law. They must provide their workers with hard hats or safety helmets and make sure they wear them. Since, on average, several hundred workers a year suffer fatal head injuries, safety helmets are key elements of workplace safety.

## Industrial protection

On some industrial worksites the risks of head injury are so high that ordinary industrial safety helmets that meet the requirements are not enough for a satisfactory level of protection - for example in industrial sectors such as mining and construction. In such cases, employees must be provided with a high-performance industrial safety helmet, which also consists of a shell and a headband with good absorption properties and protection against lateral impacts. They must also include protective padding that absorbs the energy of the impact and thus reduces the forces transmitted to the wearer's head. This padding is usually made of foam containing elements such as polyurethane.

## Colours and identification stickers

A safety helmet is often available in different colours, which can indicate different roles. These colour codes vary from company to company. In large companies, supervisors usually do not know all the workers on a site. That is why stickers, labels and markers are used to mark safety helmets, so that important information can be shared and passed on without delays and errors. This is why stickers with company logos are very common on construction sites.

## A quality safety helmet is essential

Verified and highly reliable workplace accident statistics show that the most common causes of head injuries are blows from falling objects and impacts against sharp and hard objects.

Injuries caused by such mechanical events can brutally affect the scalp, skull, brain and neck, or even the spinal cord.

For complete protection, always wear a safety helmet, and remember that in extreme cases these injuries can cause permanent disability or even death, which causes irreparable loss and suffering to you and your loved ones.

If you need a reliable safety helmet, you can see part of our range [here.](https://www.utg-vodnik.si/en/head-protection/helmets)

We are also happy to advise you. Contact our specialist, call **01 724 82 58** or write to us at **info@utg-vodnik.si** and together we will find the solution that is most suitable for you or your employees.