The meaning of the color of hard hats

Helmets are personal protective equipment used on construction sites or in workshops. They are used when there is a risk of large objects falling. They prevent head injuries. There are many colors of hard hats. Each has its meaning.

The meaning of hard hat colors

The color codes of helmets make it possible to determine the professional responsibilities of employees in a company. As PPE, the primary function of construction helmets is to protect against the risk of falls and shocks.

Discover the meaning of helmet colors below.

The white helmet meaning

The color of the engineer helmet

The company often mandates wearing a helmet of a specific color depending on the role and responsibilities. The white helmet is used by visitors, engineers, site managers and site supervisors. When you need to refer to a manager on site, just look for this helmet. If a whole group of people are wearing white hard hats, they are probably visitors the site manager is paying a visit.

The green helmet

The green helmet symbolizes health, this helmet color is dedicated to doctors. This sets them apart from other employees. This makes it easier to spot them in the event of incidents requiring their expertise.

The yellow helmet

The yellow construction helmet is used by masons when they carry out their missions in trenches. We can perceive their heads thanks to the helmets. These protect them from the risk of falls and shocks.

The red construction helmet

The red helmet is intended for HSE managers, they must be visible in their workplaces. These employees are also in charge of site security. After site managers or works foremen, HSE managers are the most called upon on a site by the administration or during inspections.

The blue helmet

The blue hard hat is reserved for electricians, carpenters and sometimes team leaders. Its port can thus be matched with a overalls with mention of its domain.

The orange helmet

The orange construction helmet is generally intended for boilermakers. The boilermaker is a professional craftsman in the production of metal parts. On a construction site, his orange construction helmet is easily spotted when assembling the metal frame or metal structures. It also works in the VRD implementation phase.

How to choose a hard hat?

There are various types of personal protective equipment that are ideal depending on the user's activity. To choose a hard hat, it is important to consider the comfort of use and the adequate protection. The essential element to have a good support of the helmet is an adapted tightening.

Hard hats come in many sizes. It is worth choosing a comfortable size. In addition, the wearing of a hard hat is mandatory according to the labor code in several cases, particularly in the construction industry. The worker, for example, even if he does not fulfill the roles mentioned above, must wear this headdress.

Which helmet color should I choose?

The color of the helmets must correspond to the function of each employee. Moreover, construction helmets are often equipped with various accessories relating to the nature of the job: visor, lamp, goggles, etc.

Color codes are common on the construction site. There is no official document in France to prove this use, although the trend is becoming widespread.

How long does a hard hat last?

The lifespan of a hard hat is identified according to the material of manufacture. Polyethylene helmets last 24 months, those in polyamide and polycarbonate 36 months. Finally, hard hats designed with reinforced polyester last 48 months. In all cases, the manufacturing and expiry date of a hard hat must appear on the equipment.

How to read the expiry date of a hard hat?

The expiry date is indicated on the hard hat. There is a notice on the equipment to make it easier to read the expiry date. This date must constantly be seen visually by the user even before the wear check.