The document discusses safety procedures for wearing hard hats. It notes that head injuries are often fatal or cause serious damage, so hard hats are important for prevention. Proper wearing of hard hats helps prevent heads contacting objects and objects contacting heads. When wearing a hard hat, the headband should be adjusted to fit, the shell and harness checked for damage, and a chin strap may be needed for working at heights. Holes should not be added and damaged hats replaced. Writing on hard hats is discouraged as markers and stickers can damage the protective coating.

1. Toolbox Talk
July 15 A GDF SUEZ ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY
THINK SAFETY – WORK SAFELY
The head is particularly vulnerable to injury. Accidents to the head are often fatal, or involve
very serious injuries, such as brain damage or a fractured skull.
Over the years it has been proved beyond doubt that many deaths and head injuries could
have been prevented, or their severity reduced, by wearing safety helmets.
So why do we wear hard Hats?
 To prevent our heads contacting objects
 To prevent objects contacting our heads
 To prevent sharp objects penetrating our heads
When wearing a hard hat always check the following points to stay safe:-
 Adjust the headband to suit your head size.
 Check that the outer shell and harness is in good condition, without indentation,
gouges, abrasions or cracks.
 Use a chin-strap where necessary to avoid the possibility of the safety helmet falling
off. This applies particularly to working at height and windy weather conditions.
 Do not punch holes into the shell for attaching unauthorised equipment or for
ventilation. Attachments for ear defenders or eye protection are available and
should only be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
 Replace any helmet if it sustains a heavy impact, as the shell may be weakened.
 Helmets must be in good condition and replaced according to the manufacturer's
guidelines. This is usually every five years.
Writing & stickers on your hat
The use of permanent marker or stickers on hard hats is not advised by
the manufacturer, this is because the pens & the glue of the stickers
may contain xylene, which can attack the plastic coating of the hat
causing it to become brittle and then fracture on impact with an object,
potentially one dropped from height.
The only items permitted by the company are Dymo/ Brother Style
label machines and company issued stickers which have an approved adhesive.
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