Safety helmet: protecting the head during and after a fall
At height, the head is exposed twice: to falling objects and to impacts against the structure during an arrested fall. A safety helmet must therefore stay in place whatever happens. KRATOS SAFETY offers a hard hat for work on the ground and at height, a helmet for work at height and rope access, a bump cap and compatible accessories.
Choosing a helmet for your activity
- Work at height, rope access, rescue: a helmet with a strong chin strap that does not come off in a fall or during suspension.
- Construction sites and industry: a hard hat whose chin strap releases under a high load, to avoid the risk of strangulation if the helmet gets caught.
- Light knocks with no risk of falling objects: a bump cap for low areas (vehicle maintenance, service ducts).
- Splashes and visibility: a visor protects the eyes and face; retroreflective stickers make the user visible at night.
Comfort matters as much as protection: an adjustable headband and replaceable pads encourage wearing the helmet all day. The side clips hold a headlamp.
Standards and regulations for helmets
Two standards coexist and do not meet the same need:
- EN 12492 for mountaineering helmets, adopted for work at height: the chin strap is designed to keep the helmet on,
- EN 397 for industrial safety helmets: the chin strap releases beyond a certain load.
The bump cap falls under EN 812 and does not replace a helmet where objects may fall. All this equipment falls under Regulation (EU) 2016/425; the user instructions, technical data sheet, EU type-examination certificate and declaration of conformity are in the Documents tab of each product page.
Completing your equipment: from helmet to full protection
- A headlamp fixed to the helmet for dark areas,
- a visor and badge holder suited to the model,
- a fall arrest harness and its fall arrest system: the helmet protects the head, it does not prevent the fall.
Maintenance and inspection of a helmet
- Before each use: check that the shell has no cracks or deformation, and inspect the headband, the chin strap and its fixings.
- Cleaning with soapy water, without solvents or paint, which can weaken the shell; only stickers provided by the manufacturer may be applied.
- Discard after a significant impact, even with no visible damage.
The service life of the helmet, counted from its date of manufacture, is stated in the user instructions and on the KRATOS SAFETY product service life page.
