Construction site workers helmets

Gilchrist, A. and Mills, N.J., 1987. Construction site workers helmets. Journal of Occupational Accidents, 9: 199–211. Instrumented impact tests were carried out on various types of industrial safety helmets manufactured to BS5240, and force versus deflection graphs produced. A simple mathematical model was used to explain the results obtained when helmets are hit on the top. The model can then be used to predict the effect of modifying the shell stiffness or suspension stiffness. It also predicts the large force oscillations at 300 Hz caused by the striker exciting the resonant frequency of the shell mass/suspension spring system. It was concluded that while the helmets perform adequately during top impacts, the protection given at the sides, front and back of the helmet is so poor that a redesign is necessary.