Personal Protective Equipment - Head Protection

Summary
Legislation
Resources

Summary

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an essential safety component of a worker’s tasks when they could become injured as a result of an exposure to a physical, chemical, electrical or biological hazard. Head protection is designed to protect the employee from potential harm and is required by workplace legislation.

Employers must educate and train workers in the proper use of head protection, and ensure all headwear is worn and is properly maintained. [O. Reg. 213/91, s. 21]

Personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, is the last means of protection so it is vital to ensure:

the hazard is controlled at the source and employees know PPE is a secondary means of protection.
all employees have a full understanding for the need and use of PPE.
that PPE is properly fitted for each employee.
that the use of PPE is consistently enforced where needed.

Hard hats are mandatory for all workers when working on a construction project. The hard hat must have a shell and suspension that will protect the worker’s head against impact and against small flying or falling objects, and must be able to withstand an electrical contact equal to 20,000 volts phase to ground. [O. Reg. 213/91, s. 22]

Legislation

Construction Projects

O. Reg. 213/91

Part II GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

Section 21 Protective Clothing, Equipment and Devices

21. (1) A worker shall wear such protective clothing and use such personal protective equipment or devices as are necessary to protect the worker against the hazards to which the worker may be exposed.

(2) A worker's employer shall require the worker to comply with subsection (1).

(3) A worker required to wear protective clothing or use personal protective equipment or devices shall be adequately instructed and trained in the care and use of the clothing, equipment or device before wearing or using it.

(4) Personal protective clothing and equipment that is provided, worn or used shall be a proper fit, having regard to all relevant factors including body types.

[O. Reg. 61/23, s. 1]

Section 22

22. (1) Every worker shall wear protective headwear at all times when in a project.

(2) Protective headwear shall be a safety hat that,

(a) consists of a shell and suspension that is adequate to protect a person's head against impact and against flying or falling small objects; and

(b) has a shell which can withstand a dielectric strength test at 20,000 volts phase to ground.

Resources

CCOHS Resources

Care of Headwear
Chainsaws - Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing
Designing an Effective PPE Program
Personal Protective Equipment (various documents)

IHSA Resources

Construction Health & Safety Manual, Chapter 12: Head Protection

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