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3M
™
Hard Hats
Know your risks. Put safety on your list.
3Msafety.com
This document provides basic information on hard hat use, testing and standards compliance.
In all cases a risk/hazard assessment should be carried out and use limitations considered to
ascertain the protection required.
Impact Type:
Type I: Intended to reduce force of impact from blow to
top of the head
Type II: Intended to reduce force of impact from blow to
top or sides of the head
All 3M hard hats are Type I
Electrical Classes
Class C (Conductive)
• Not intended to provide protection against
contact with electrical hazards
Class G (General)
• Reduce the danger of contact with low
voltage conductors
• Proof-tested at 2,200 volts
Class E (Electrical)
• Reduce the danger of contact with higher
voltage conductors
• Proof-tested at 20,000 volts
ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2009 Requirements
Overview: Establishes the minimum performance requirements for protective helmets that reduce the forces of
impact and penetration and that may provide protection from electrical shock.
Purpose for wearing a protective hard hat:
1. Help protect workers from head trauma due to small objects
falling from above.
Hard outer shell usually made from HDPE (High-Density
Polyethylene), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or
other Thermoplastic material.
2. Help prevent force from transmitting down the spine if an
impact from above occurs.
Inner suspension that is attached to the shell reduces
forces that would otherwise be transmitted to the head
and spine.
3. Help protect from low level electrical shock (Applies only to
hard hats that meet ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2009 Type I, Class G
and E, and CSA Z94.1-2005 Type 1, Class G and E).
Hard outer shell. The homogeneous material insulates
against low level electrical shock. Not all hard hats provide
electrical protection. Always review the hard hat user
instructions and warnings to evaluate electrical protection.
Cautionary Note on Electrical Protection
Class G and E helmets provide limited electrical protection.
The maximum voltage against which the helmet will protect the
wearer depends on a number of variables – including the
characteristics of the electrical circuit, condition of the helmet
and prevailing weather conditions. The safe use of helmets in
electrical applications must be established by the authority
with jurisdiction.