Dentec Safety Liberty hard hat type 1 class E approved equipped with a swivel head suspension for flagmen

ERB SAFETY®/ Dentec Safety Specialists, Inc, Liberty™ hard hat equipped with a four-point suspension. The headgear is adjustable in several ways, among others, you can swivel the neck band and tighten the ratchet to customize the tension around the head. This helmet meets the new CSA Z94.1-15, type 1, class E standard requirements. Sold individually, 12 units per case.

Erb Safety/ Dentec Safety Specialists, Inc. manufacturer’s code: 14LR79620-HVL(High visibility)

This safety helmet for flagmen workers features a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) shell. Also known as a hard hat, this head protection gear is type 1 and class E in compliance with the CSA Z94.1-15 standard, which means it is legal to work with this piece of equipment in Canada since it offers a physical protection of the top of the head as well as an electrical protection from a 20,000 volts nominal current. This particular model of hard hat offers the advantage to be worn the regular way, that is, with the wave peek up front, but also in reverse donning. The latter mode allows one to see overhead if need be; it also allows one to wear a faceshield, let’s say, for welding. This safety gear also meets ANSI Z89.1-2014 requirements. The ratchet system allows an adjustment from a diameter of 6 ½ inches to 8 inches ensuring a safe and comfortable equipment to wear. For added comfort, the manufacturer has designed quite a lightweight safety helmet (13.26 oz, which equals 376 g).

Materials:
The hard hat shell is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a material widely used industrially for its physical strength. HDPE is resistant to a wide spectrum of chemicals, including most acids, bases, salts, alcohols, lubricants, and oils, as well as gasoline and kerosene. HDPE is not resistant to some fuels (diesel, hydrazine, jet fuel, crude oil, propane), to some solvents (acetone, benzene, toluene, mineral spirits, paint thinner, varsol), to phenols, to ethers, to ozone, to some concentrated acids (nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid) and to some concentrated strong bases (sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide). If a hard hat must withstand contact with chemical products, it is recommended to perform a contact test with the specific chemicals involved, in order to ensure the materials of the hard hat will not be compromised. Polyethylene can withstand temperatures as high as 105 °C and may start to break at temperatures as low as -50 °C. Note it is well known that polyethylene doesn’t resist well to oxidizers.

The structure of the suspension (or headband or head helmet), as well as the four anchor points, are made of polypropylene whereas the webbing is made of nylon.

Certification:
This hard hat is certified type 1 which means it offers a protection from impacts occurring on the top of the head. It is also certified class E which means it offers a protection from electrical shocks. The helmet has subjected to many lab tests, one of which measures the dielectric rigidity (electric conductance or resistance basically). In short, the lower the leakage current is, the better is the dielectric rigidity of the helmet. What’s so special about Class E helmets is that they have been designed to withstand and protect one from an incredibly high voltage which may reach 20,000 volts at 60 Hertz.

Class E Helmets:

Class E helmets successfully underwent a specific lab test measuring their dielectric rigidity with an applied voltage of 20,000 Volts at 60 Hertz. The recorded leakage current during the test must not exceed the maximum limit allowed by the CSA Z94.1-15 standard. Other criteria are evaluated during these tests, among other things, how the helmet is conditioning to its environment and the helmet’s increment rate at a voltage of 1,000 volts per second. This particular model of helmet is quite popular among construction workers.

Accessories:
When you buy your brand new Liberty™ helmet, the head suspension is equipped with a brow pad for perspiration. This pad is removable and easy to put back; it is even washable and durable. You may notice as well the accessory slots that accommodate PPE accessories such as protection from noise nuisance with cap-mounted earmuffs (OPH10P3) or a faceshield (YPH24, headgear; YVP96, visor) and even a lining for thermal protection. At last, this safety helmet can be paired with its own model of chin strap (TA14CS).

Retro-reflective stripes are also available if a worker wishes to have some at the designated location of the lower part of the helmet; note, however, that the stripes must be approved for this use by the manufacturer to be legal. One may choose to add decals or stickers, but they are not recommended since they prevent a good inspection of your PPEs.

Maintenance:
The CSA Z94.1-15 standard states that one shall inspect its hard hat and clean it daily. It is recommended to clean the shell and the suspension with lukewarm water and a mild soap such as dish soap.

Service Life:
According to the CSA Z94.1-15, the hat as it is shall be inspected every day by the worker himself. He shall be looking for any traces of cracking, splitting or discoloration. This is why a helmet should never have stickers on it as it is too often. Basically, the hat should remain shiny and its appearance, equally smooth. Note that any cleaning solution to aggressive when in contact with the helmet can and will damage it. One should never try to reuse a hard hat that withstood a solid impact. The manufacturer suggests that the shell has a service life of no more than 5 years.

The suspension should also be inspected and clean daily to remove sebum, hair, perspiration, etc. The manufacturer recommends the replacement of the suspension every year. Of course, don’t be alarmed by the fact that a brand new suspension is almost as expensive as a new helmet. To conclude, one should never use his helmet as a bucket or a bag to handle tools or just stuff around.