Hard Hat Color Code Explained

Hard hats are essential equipment used in all sorts of industries and construction
sites throughout the world. They are responsible for ensuring the safety off all
kinds of workers on the site. Even outside of safety purposes they are also used in
various other ways to minimize risk and maximize efficiency at the work site.
Brief History of Hard Hats
There are varying opinions on the exact time the hard hat was first used. A
primitive version of the hard hat was used in the very early years of ship building.
Workers covered their hats with tar and let them cure under the sun to form a sort
of safety hat. This saved them from falling objects commonplace in their work.
Many credit the writer Franz Kafka for developing the first ever civilian hard hat.
It is said he did it while working at the Worker’s Accident Insurance Institute
for the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1912. But no concrete documents have
been found supporting this claim.
Widespread use of what we know today as the hard hat can be traced back to the
1930s in America. These hats were used in many massive construction projects
such as the Golden Gate Bridge in California and the Hoover Dam. Though their
construction was different. The use of these hats were mandated by the Six
Companies, Inc. In 1933.
Why do you need a hard hat?
The primary use of hard hat is related to safety and the reduction of possible
accidents and injuries. But nowadays the hard hat is being used in various creative
ways to increase the overall efficiency of the work site.
Safety from falling objects
The most basic use of a hard hat is protection from falling objects. The hard hat as
we know it was created specifically for this purpose. Even more primitive versions
of the hard hat such as a normal hat covered with tar were made specifically for
protection of ship building workers heads from objects overhead.
Identification of a person
Hard hats are a very convenient way to immediately identify any person on the
work site. With the color code it is ever so simple to determine what a workers
designation is and what does he do on the site with a mere glance. This decreases
the amount of wasted time.
For example let’s say you are facing some sort of electrical issue while working on
the first floor. So you need a person from the electrical side to shut done the power
properly. You can easily do this by looking for the required color and identifying
them from a crowd. Without a color coded hard hat this can take a lot of time.
Easing communication
Color coded hard hats have made communicating on the work site easier. One
worker can easily notify another worker if they are in a dangerous place. For
example if you are lifting any kind of heavy machinery and you have to call out all
the workers of that field. You can easily do this with the hard hat colors.
Maintaining continuity
If all the construction sites employ the usage of the same color coded hard hats it
can help maintain continuity. Workers going from one project to another can feel
somewhat at home due to the similar color coded hard hats. They can easily
identify which workers belong where. Supervisors will also be benefitted by this.
Hard Hat Color Code Explained
The hard hat color code system helps to provide each hard hat with a specific
color. Using this system all workers of a specific field are designated to the same
color. There are several colors that are used on a work site.
White hard hat
This color is easily to detect amidst all the other colors. Which is why it is
reserved for anyone who is working in a supervisory role. This includes engineers,
architects, managers and foremen.
Green hard hat
The green hard hat is allotted to the industry or construction sites safety officer or
inspectors. But in some cases it can also be assigned to new hires of trainees of the
company.
Yellow hard hats
Yellow hard hats are worn by workers who deal with heavy machinery or the
workers who are earth movers. It can also be given to workers involved with
general construction labor.
Brown hard hat
The workers who are generally involved with welding or other tasks which involve
high heat are given brown hats.
Orange hard hat
This bright and highly visible color is normally designated to workers who are
employed on the road construction field. On some occasions it can also be given to
site visitors.
Blue hard hats
This hard hat is generally reserved for carpenters and electricians. Along with them
interim workers and employees who are in a technical advisory role can also wear
this color.
Red hard hat
The red hard hat is assigned to workers who undergo emergency training such as
fire fighters.
Grey hard hats
This color is most often used to identify visitors on the work site.
Pink hard hats
The pink hard hat is used mainly for female workers in some work sites. But many
companies give the pink hard hat to any worker who has forgotten to bring their
own hard hat to the site. This is seen a measure to discourage forgetfulness. Many
have also worn this hard hat in support of causes such as fight against cancer.
Conclusion
Hard hats are an essential piece of equipment for workers in a variety of industries
and construction sites worldwide. They can mean the difference between life and
death in many occasions. They have reduced the danger in such workplaces
significantly.
The color code implemented in these hard hats have increased their functionality
by several folds. With each kind of worker under the same color they can easily
coordinate with themselves and also reach out to a worker of a specific field if
need be. This system has made the work sites much more efficient as well as safe.
Meta Description
Hard hats are a godsend to workers on construction or industrial sites. For many
reasons they do come in a color coded system. We’ve shed some light on them.