Skip to content

Viper Safety, Inc

Default screen resolution  Wide screen resolution  Increase font size  Decrease font size  Default font size 
You are here:    Home arrow Hard Hat History
 E-mail

 History of the Hard Hat

 

 The "Hard Boiled Hard Hat" 

Image

PPE has been a necessity for decades in the work place and on the construction site but 100 years ago the Hard Hat did not exist until it's invention around 1914. The first designs were based from World War 1 helmets that soldiers used as as a means of minimal safety on the battle field. 50 years ago, Protective Headgear was available but seldom used. As the Industrial Revolution boomed in the early 1900's, accidents and deaths escalated at an alarming rate. Around the 1920's, Head Protection slowly began to emerge as employers finally started addressing the safety of their construction workers, miners and others who were exposed to dangerous falling debris. These initial designs had very similar features to modern Plastic headgear that you see today. Back in the day, workers constantly complained because their Headgear was heavy, bulky, uncomfortable to wear, and very hot during the summer months. After the first Hard Hat Supplier fashioned their primitive  design, others followed with versions of their own to get in on this new market.

   

 

 

 

  

  Image of the original "Hard Boiled Hard Hat"  Circa 1920

 

  First Designated Hard Hat Area 

Image

The first designated "Hard Hat Area" in the United States was set up at the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge construction site in 1933. Since that time there has been a number of intuitive upgrades to the size, shape, color, composition, and suspention of the initial concept in order to improve its design and also to address worker complaints. After all, a happy worker is productive worker. Further design innovations yielded Custom Hard Hats that greatly appeal to the workers who wear them and provide a much higher level of Head Protection.  Some lightweight materials that are used today in Protective Headgear include Plastic, phenalic, aluminum, Kevlar and polycarbonate just to name a few. The latest modern designs include venting, ratcheting suspention, Accessory attachment points which facilitate items like ear protection and miners lamps. In any work area around the world today you will see a plethora of plain or Custom designs with every Accessory imaginable to aid in the safety of workers. Construction workers are notorious for pasting Decals and Safety stickers upon their hats from different jobs they were they have worked in the past. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Constuction workers secure cables on Golden Gate Bridge project in 1934

 

Cowboy Hard Hat

Image

The most uniqe design today is the Cowboy Hard Hat which is becomming increasingly popular. Surprisingly enough, These innovative new designs really appeal to the workforce of today and are in complance with ANSI Z89.1 standards as well as OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.135. Headgear that is compliant with these standards are commonly marked on the inside with stamped text or decals that will indicate compliance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Want to learn More About Hard Hats ?
 
 
Copyright 2008 - www.vipersafetyinc.com