TOOLBOX TALK – HEAD PROTECTION

INTRODUCTION
Most people within their time working in construction will have known of someone who has
sustained head injuries at work through not wearing the correct type of head protection, some
individuals may have experienced this already themselves even incurring injury.

WHY?
To protect oneself: Avoiding injury to ones head is easy – wear the PPE that is freely provided.
To avoid programme delay: Accidents and injury take people away from their work, this time loss
knocks on to project completion times or costs if additional working is required to remedy lost time.
To control costs: Accidents and injuries cost the individual concerned in lost time, lost earnings,
lost earning potential as well as pain and suffering. The company also have to pay sick leave,
additional insurance premiums, etc due to work related injuries – in a nutshell – everyone is a loser.

DO
Only use head protection of the correct
standard – BS EN 397 or equivalent.
Get instruction on wearing head protection
properly if you have not been instructed
already
Obey all signs that specify that the wearing
of head protection is required.
Wear the head protection provided to you.
Properly adjust the harness to fit your head
– not too tight.
Look after the head protection that is
provided to you, keep it clean, in good
repair and properly stow it away when not in
use.
Get head protection replaced if it becomes
damaged (dropped from a height onto a
hard surface) and unserviceable.
Report any losses of head protection to
your Manager so that a replacement can be
issued.
Should you feel that you have incurred a
head injury get a trained first aider to look at
it.
Keep your head protection as clean as
possible – use warm soapy water to remove
dirt & moisture.
If in doubt contact your Line Manager
DON’T
DON’T Use head protection that is damaged
or unsuitable for the work being undertaken.
DON’T Enter designated head protection
areas without wearing the protection required,
even if the work area appears to be idle / not
working.
DON’T Paint the helmet or attach
unauthorised stickers to it as this will damage
it’s properties
DON’T Use your helmet as a tray in which to
carry things.
DON’T Wear head protection back to front.
DON’T Rely on signs to tell you when it is
sensible to wear head protection.
DON’T Loan your head protection to others, it
is personal and they may mistreat it.
DON’T Wear poor fitting head protection –
obtain some that is of the correct type and fit
for you or has means of fit adjustment.

HSE-TBT-0018-03.03.13