How to protect your head? Guide to PPE for head and eyes

Workplace safety is an important issue in any workplace, especially those where heavy machinery is used or tasks are performed that may pose a risk to the physical integrity of workers. In this sense, the appropriate selection of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the head is essential to ensure the protection of workers in the event of accidents.

PPE for the head includes helmets and eye protectors.

Helmets are an essential protective element in any workplace where there is a risk of falling objects or blows to the head. Eye protectors are necessary when handling materials that can cause eye injuries, such as splashes of chemicals or suspended particles.

To properly select PPE for the head, it is necessary to take into account some fundamental aspects:

Identification of risks: It is important to carry out an assessment of the risks present in the workplace to identify which PPE is necessary. For hard hats, the risks of falling objects, impact injuries, and impact injuries must be considered. For eye protectors, the risks of exposure to chemicals, radiation, and airborne particles must be considered.

Equipment Selection: It is important to select equipment that meets safety and quality standards. Hard hats and eye protectors must meet regulations established in each country or region.

Size and Fit: The hard hat or eye protector must be appropriate for the size and shape of the worker's head to ensure adequate protection. It is important that the hard hat fits the head well and does not move, but without being too tight. Eye protectors must also be comfortable and fit the worker's face well.

Comfort: It is essential that PPE is comfortable so that workers can wear it for as long as necessary. Hard hats and eye protectors should be lightweight and not interfere with normal head movement and the worker's vision.

Maintenance: It is important to keep head PPE in good condition. Hard hats should be inspected regularly to ensure they are not cracked or damaged. Eye protectors should be cleaned regularly to prevent the buildup of dust particles or other materials that may affect the worker's vision.

Harmonised standards

- General industrial use

EN 397:2012+A1:2012, Protective helmets for industry.

 “Protective helmets for industry are primarily intended to provide protection to the wearer against falling objects and the resulting brain injuries and skull fractures.”

EN 812:2012, Impact helmets for industry.

“Impact protective helmets are intended to protect the wearer from the effects of impacts of the head against hard, stationary objects of sufficient force to cause lacerations or other superficial injuries. They are not intended to protect against the effects of falling or projecting objects or suspended or moving loads.”

EN 14052:2012+A1:2012, High-performance helmets for industry.

“High-performance helmets for industry, as specified in this European Standard, are intended to provide the user with protection against falling objects and off-top impacts, as well as against brain injuries, skull fractures and neck injuries resulting from them.”

- Special applications

UNE-EN 443:2009, Helmets for firefighting in buildings and other structures

UNE-EN 50365:2003, Electrically insulating helmets for use in low-voltage installations

Head protection in the workplace is essential to ensure the safety and health of workers. The head is a vital part of the human body and therefore requires adequate protection in risky situations.

There are many and varied reasons why we should protect our heads at work. Firstly, the head is vulnerable to serious injuries such as skull fractures, brain contusions, eye and inner ear injuries, among others. These injuries can be caused by falling objects, projecting fragments, exposure to high noise levels, among other risks.

Secondly, some jobs involve contact with chemicals, gases, vapours and particles that can seriously affect people's health, including the head. In this case, workers must wear helmets and eye protectors that protect them from these risks and minimize the impact on their health.

Thirdly, there are jobs that involve exposure to high temperatures, such as foundry, welding, handling hot materials, among others. In these situations, the use of appropriate helmets and eye protectors is essential to prevent burns and damage to the skin and eyes.

Finally, the risks of workplace accidents should not be underestimated. Although they can be unpredictable, we must be prepared to minimize their effects. The use of helmets and eye protectors can make the difference between serious injuries or emerging unscathed from a risky situation.

Eye and face protectors are subdivided, depending on the protected area, into:

• PROTECTIVE GLASSES: If they only protect the eyes.
• PROTECTIVE SCREENS: If, in addition to the eyes, they protect part or all of the face or other areas of the head.

The main elements of both groups are analysed below:

Protective glasses: They are classified according to the risk(s) against which they are intended to protect (some of which require that they be watertight):

• Impacts.
• Fine or coarse dust. Gases.
• Liquids. Radiations.
• Etc.

Eyepieces can be classified according to:

• Type of material: Mineral glass, organic glass, mesh, etc.
• Their optical class (they can be type 1,2 or 3, from highest to lowest quality). Their optical characteristics (corrective or not).
• Etc.

There are basically two types of frames:

• a) Universal frame glasses. - Protectors whose eyepieces are attached to/on a frame with temples (with or without side protectors).
• b) Full frame glasses. - These are protectors that hermetically enclose the orbital region, remaining in contact with the face.

Protective screens:

We can differentiate three types of protective screens:

(a) Face shield.- Covers all or part of the face.

(b) Hand shield.- Face shields that are held by hand. (c) Full face shield. - In addition to the eyes, they cover the face, throat and neck, and can be worn directly on the head, or with a head harness or a protective helmet.

Like glasses, they are classified according to the risk/s against which they are intended to protect (some of which require that they be watertight):

• Welding.
• Short-circuit electric arc. Impacts.
• Radiation.
• Radiant heat.
• Liquid splashes. Splashes of molten metal, etc.

The visor can be made of a wide variety of materials (plastic, wire mesh, textile mesh, etc.) and are classified, like the eyepieces of glasses, into three optical classes.

Apart from the “CE” marking, eyepieces and frames may bear various marks included in harmonized European standards, which must be explained in the instructions. Below is a list of them:

A) Marking of eyepieces:

(1) Manufacturer identification.

(2) Optical class. Filter covers must always be class 1. For other eyepieces, any of the three optical classes mentioned above is valid.

(3) Protection class. This mark is mandatory and exclusive to filter eyepieces. It consists of two elements, a code number (which tells us the type of radiation for which the filter can be used) and a degree of protection (which is an indicator of “darkening”, which gives an idea of the amount of visible light that is allowed to pass through), which are written separated by a hyphen. The existing code numbers are listed below:

• 2: ultraviolet filter, which can alter colour recognition.
• 3: ultraviolet filter, which allows good colour recognition.
• 4: Infrared filter.
• 5: Solar filter without infrared requirements.
• 6: Solar filter with infrared requirements.

(4) Mechanical resistance. One of the following symbols is used:

• No symbol: minimum mechanical resistance.
• S: increased mechanical resistance.
• F: low-energy impact resistance.
• B: medium-energy impact resistance.
• A: High-energy impact resistance.

(5) Non-adhesion of molten metal and resistance to penetration of hot solids. Lenses meeting this requirement are marked with the number 9.

(6) Resistance to surface damage by fine particles is marked with the letter K.

(7) Resistance to fogging. Marked with the letter N.

(8) In order to face outward the layers of laminated lenses that can be dangerously broken, these lenses must be marked with a marking on the nose of the front face to prevent incorrect assembly.

B) Frame marking:

(1) Manufacturer identification.

(2) European standard number EN 166.

(3) Field of use

• 4: Coarse dust particles.
• 5: Gas and fine dust particles. 8: Short-circuit electric arc. 9: Molten metal and hot solids.

(4) Resistance to high-speed particle impact:

• F: Low-energy impact. Valid for all types of protectors.
• B: Medium-energy impact. Only valid for full-frame glasses and face shields.
• A: High-energy impact. Only valid for face shields.

The choice of eye and/or face protection equipment requires extensive knowledge of the workplace and its environment. Therefore, in most cases, the choice must be made by trained personnel.

Here are some useful recommendations for the selection process:

• Before purchasing eye and/or face protection, it is advisable to draw up a list of the risks against which it must protect and other factors related to the working conditions that may need to be taken into account (temperature, humidity, etc.). Based on this list, the models available on the market can be studied.
• During the selection process, the manufacturer's information leaflet must be taken into account. It contains useful information regarding storage, use, cleaning, maintenance, disinfection, accessories, spare parts, protection classes, expiration dates, explanations of brands, etc.
• Before making a decision, it is advisable to test it under real working conditions.
• When purchasing eye and/or face protection, the manufacturer or supplier should be asked for a sufficient number of information leaflets in Spanish. If a worker does not understand this language, the necessary information must be made available to him or her in a way that is understandable.
• The choice of protection against impact risks should be made based on the energy of the impact and its form of incidence (frontal, lateral, indirect, etc.). Other parameters, such as impact frequency, nature of particles, etc., will determine the need for additional features such as abrasion resistance of the lenses, etc.
• The choice of lenses for protection against radiation risks should be based on the indications of the corresponding UNE standards. In the particular case of laser radiation, given the complexity of its choice, it is preferable to use a supplier with proven solvency in this field.

Protectors with low optical quality lenses (2 and 3) should only be used occasionally.

If the user is in a transit area or needs to see what is happening in a wide area, they should use protectors that reduce their peripheral field of vision only slightly.

The possibility of sudden head movements during work requires the choice of a protector with a reliable fastening system. This can be achieved with an appropriate fit or with accessories (rubber fastening between the temples of the glasses) that ensure the correct position of the protector and prevent accidental detachment.

Heat and humidity encourage fogging of the lenses. So do continuous effort or adopting uncomfortable postures, which cause sweating. This is a very difficult problem to solve, although it can be mitigated by an appropriate choice of frame, lens material and additional protection (use of anti-fog products, etc.).

When radiation protection eyepieces are exposed to molten metal splashes, their useful life can be extended by using anti-glasses or filter covers, which, as specified above, must always be of optical class 1.

WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY WORK?.

Hearing protectors are personal protective equipment that, due to their sound attenuation properties, reduce the effects of noise on the hearing aid, thus minimizing damage to the ear.

There are several types:

Ear muffs. - These consist of caps that cover the ears and adapt to the head by means of soft pads, generally filled with plastic foam or liquid. The caps are normally lined with a sound-absorbing material. They are joined together by a pressure band (harness), usually made of metal or plastic. Sometimes a flexible ribbon is attached to each cap, or to the harness near the caps. This strap is used to hold the helmets when the harness is worn on the back of the neck or under the chin.

Helmet-attached ear muffs. - These consist of individual caps attached to arms fixed to a safety helmet. These are adjustable so that they can be placed over the ears when required.

Earplugs. - These are hearing protectors that are inserted into the ear canal or the ear cavity, intended to block its entry. Sometimes

They come provided with an interconnecting cord or a harness.

Noise-cancelling helmets. - These are helmets that cover the ear, as well as a large part of the head. They also reduce the transmission of acoustic waves through the ear, as well as the transmission of airborne acoustic waves to the cranial cavity, thereby reducing the bone conduction of sound to the inner ear.

It is important to note that the use of hearing protectors can lead to the appearance of new risks such as those derived from insufficient identification of acoustic signals and insufficient understanding of words (use of the equipment).

The choice of hearing protection equipment requires a thorough knowledge of the acoustic environment (noise level and frequency) of the workplace, as well as its surroundings. Therefore, the choice must be made by trained personnel.

Here are some recommendations of interest when it comes to the selection process:

Once the sound environment (noise level and frequency) has been characterised, the models available on the market can be studied. The hearing protector must be chosen in such a way that it reduces noise exposure to an admissible limit.

Using a hearing protector must not impair the perception of speech, danger signals or any other sound or signal necessary for the correct performance of the activity. If necessary, you can look for “special” hearing protectors: devices with variable attenuation depending on the sound level, active attenuation, flat frequency attenuation spectrum, audio frequency reception, etc.

During the selection process, the manufacturer’s information leaflet should be taken into account. It contains useful information regarding: storage, use, cleaning, maintenance, disinfection, accessories, spare parts, protection classes, expiration date, explanation of brands, etc.

The protector must be chosen based on the work environment so that it is effective and the discomfort is minimal. For this purpose, the following are preferred:

a) Earplugs, for continuous use, particularly in hot and humid environments, or when they must be worn together with glasses or other protective equipment.

b) Earmuffs or earplugs connected by a strap, for intermittent use.

c) Earmuffs for work in dirty environments (for hygienic reasons).

d) Earmuffs or a combination of earplugs and earmuffs for extremely noisy environments.

Comfort and acceptance vary greatly from one user to another. It is therefore advisable to try out several models in the workplace before making a final choice. As regards earmuffs, comfort can be improved by reducing the mass and the application force of the earmuffs and by properly adapting the padded rim to the contour of the ear. As regards earplugs, it is advisable to avoid those that cause excessive local pressure.

When purchasing hearing protectors, the manufacturer or supplier should be asked for a sufficient number of information leaflets in Spanish. If any worker does not understand this language, the information should be made available to him in a way that is understandable to him.