Climbing & Rescue Helmets

Climbing & Rescue Helmets

Protecting your skull is an important part of job safety. It’s no secret that working in at-height, industry, and construction involves a wide variety of hazards on a job site at any given moment. That’s why being proactive about head protection should be a priority for everyone.

When choosing your helmet for your climbing gear setup you should consider a range of factors. The best helmet choices will include helmets that are designed for working in vertical positions that feature a four-point chin strap. Other features to look for are electrical insulation, adjustable inserts, sweatbands, and ear muff slots. 

Types of Helmets:

There are two types of helmets (type 1 and type 2) classified by ANSI Z89.1-2014 for different levels of protection. Type 1 helmets are designed to only take a blow directly to the top of the head. Type 2 helmets have been designed to reduce forces from lateral impact such as an off-center and/or side impact, in addition to top impacts. These helmets have visible padding on the sides.

Helmet Classes:

There are 3 classes (C, E, & G) that specify electrical protection. Class C helmets are considered conductive and do not provide any electrical protection, these are typically vented and only protect workers from impact. Class E hard hats offer protection from high voltage conductors up to 20,000 volts, and cannot have any vents in the design. Lastly, Class G offers protection from low voltage conductors up to 2,200 volts, they must also be free of holes for ventilation. 

Service Life:

Helmets are not designed to last forever. Service life begins from the time it is put into service and that date should be properly labeled and documented. The suspension should be replaced annually (after 12 months) and the helmet should be replaced after no more than 5 years. If the helmet sustains an impact, it must be retired immediately even if there is no visible damage.

Inspection:

Proper inspection should be taken each time the helmet is worn. Suspension should be installed and worn as the manufacturer intended. Exposure to paint and chemicals may damage the structure of the helmet, therefore steps must be taken to remove paint or chemicals after every use. Pressure sensitive, non-metallic stickers and self-adhesive tape are typically accepted however we strongly recommend you refer to the manufacturer's specifications before applying anything on the surface of the helmet.

Need help finding the perfect helmet? Check in with one of our Gear Experts® here.