zog
Senior Member
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
George, want to add this to the FAQ's?
First off, there is no "expiration date" for hard hats. Manufactures put dates on them and recommend replacement after 2 years, but that is to sell more hard hats. However, OSHA does require you inspect your hard hat every day, that is hard to do if it is covered in stickers.
ANSI Z89 has the inspection requirements for hard hats, and if yours does not pass it should be replaced, wether it is 10 weeks or 10 years old. Here is a guide to inspectiing your hard hat. http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/ih/Refs/longerHardHatSept26.pdf
Stickers, those are tough. Nothing in OSHA says you can't have stickers, however for electrical rated hard hats (Class E) you need to be careful on using them.( Some staes OSHA rules specifically ban stickers on Class E rated hard hats so check your states OSHA regulation if your state has them)
Here is OSHA's stance on stickers
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=27272
So OSHA "punts" this to the manufactures. Here is what some common hard hat manufactures say about stickers
MSA Instructions
It is permissible to use pressure-sensitive stickers or tape with self-adhesive backing AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT closer than 1/2” from the helmet’s edge. MSA’s studies indicate that such stickers or tape in such locations will not affect burn-through (i.e. dielectric classification) or a MSA helmet’s structure. However, because it is impossible for MSA to test all pressure-sensitive adhesives, caution should still be taken when using such materials. Also, be sure that when stickers or tape are applied, they do not cover any helmet damage.
Bullard Instructions
The use of self-adhesive stickers by individual users to “personalize” their hard hats or for other marking or identification purposes is a common practice. Because of the type of adhesive used in typical pressure-sensitive stickers, there is very little potential for chemical interaction between the adhesive and the helmet shell, and their use would not be expected to negatively affect the performance of the helmet under normal conditions. Adhesive stickers should be placed at least ?” away from the edge of the helmet, and the area of the helmet covered in this way should be kept to a practical minimum to permit regular inspection of the helmet shell for signs of damage from use or aging.
North Safety Instructions
The use of self-adhesive stickers for identification purposes is a very common practice nowadays. There is very little or no interaction between the adhesive, on pressure sensitive stickers, and the shell of the hard hat because of the type of adhesive or glue used. Of course the use of adhesive stickers should always be kept to the minimum in order to permit regular inspections of the hat’s shell for any signs of damage from use and/or deterioration…
Fibre-Metal Instructions
Do not paint, imprint, apply decals or stickers without the written permission of North Safety Products. Paint can attack the shell and cause degradation and stickers can cover cracks or damage on the shell.
Sperian Instructions
Stickers and labels may be added to the hard hat shell, as long as none is over 0.5 inches from the bottom of the hard hat. Keep in mind that adding stickers and labels to a hard hat makes it much more difficult to inspect the shell for cracks and damage. Pay close attention to the areas around and under the labels or stickers. You may have to remove the suspension and carefully check the underside of the hard hat shell in order to properly inspect the site of the label or sticker. d. Painting the hard hat shell: Paint contains chemicals that will interfere with the performance and integrity of the hard hat shell. Do not, under any circumstances, paint the shell of a hard hat.
First off, there is no "expiration date" for hard hats. Manufactures put dates on them and recommend replacement after 2 years, but that is to sell more hard hats. However, OSHA does require you inspect your hard hat every day, that is hard to do if it is covered in stickers.
ANSI Z89 has the inspection requirements for hard hats, and if yours does not pass it should be replaced, wether it is 10 weeks or 10 years old. Here is a guide to inspectiing your hard hat. http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/ih/Refs/longerHardHatSept26.pdf
Stickers, those are tough. Nothing in OSHA says you can't have stickers, however for electrical rated hard hats (Class E) you need to be careful on using them.( Some staes OSHA rules specifically ban stickers on Class E rated hard hats so check your states OSHA regulation if your state has them)
Here is OSHA's stance on stickers
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=27272
So OSHA "punts" this to the manufactures. Here is what some common hard hat manufactures say about stickers
MSA Instructions
It is permissible to use pressure-sensitive stickers or tape with self-adhesive backing AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT closer than 1/2” from the helmet’s edge. MSA’s studies indicate that such stickers or tape in such locations will not affect burn-through (i.e. dielectric classification) or a MSA helmet’s structure. However, because it is impossible for MSA to test all pressure-sensitive adhesives, caution should still be taken when using such materials. Also, be sure that when stickers or tape are applied, they do not cover any helmet damage.
Bullard Instructions
The use of self-adhesive stickers by individual users to “personalize” their hard hats or for other marking or identification purposes is a common practice. Because of the type of adhesive used in typical pressure-sensitive stickers, there is very little potential for chemical interaction between the adhesive and the helmet shell, and their use would not be expected to negatively affect the performance of the helmet under normal conditions. Adhesive stickers should be placed at least ?” away from the edge of the helmet, and the area of the helmet covered in this way should be kept to a practical minimum to permit regular inspection of the helmet shell for signs of damage from use or aging.
North Safety Instructions
The use of self-adhesive stickers for identification purposes is a very common practice nowadays. There is very little or no interaction between the adhesive, on pressure sensitive stickers, and the shell of the hard hat because of the type of adhesive or glue used. Of course the use of adhesive stickers should always be kept to the minimum in order to permit regular inspections of the hat’s shell for any signs of damage from use and/or deterioration…
Fibre-Metal Instructions
Do not paint, imprint, apply decals or stickers without the written permission of North Safety Products. Paint can attack the shell and cause degradation and stickers can cover cracks or damage on the shell.
Sperian Instructions
Stickers and labels may be added to the hard hat shell, as long as none is over 0.5 inches from the bottom of the hard hat. Keep in mind that adding stickers and labels to a hard hat makes it much more difficult to inspect the shell for cracks and damage. Pay close attention to the areas around and under the labels or stickers. You may have to remove the suspension and carefully check the underside of the hard hat shell in order to properly inspect the site of the label or sticker. d. Painting the hard hat shell: Paint contains chemicals that will interfere with the performance and integrity of the hard hat shell. Do not, under any circumstances, paint the shell of a hard hat.
