The hard hats were conceptualized about a hundred years ago by Bullard, who had a family-owned manufacturing business specializing in personal protective equipment. They now focus on industrial head protection, including Construction Hard Hats. In the early days, there was no protective gear for heads in the construction industry. Over time, as safety measures became more recognized, a helmet similar to a baseball cap was designed. It featured a small hard leather and shellac brim and was primarily used by miners.
In 1915, Bullard began working on what would become known as hard hats or helmets. Initially made from steamed canvas, glue, and black paint, it was called the 'hard boiled hat.' This design served as inspiration for the creation of Construction hard hats. Collaborating with engineers of the time, Bullard aimed to design a helmet that could protect workers from the impact of falling objects. Thus, the mining helmet evolved into a durable Construction Hard Hat. The first construction hard hat was made of aluminum, which was considered both very durable and reasonably lightweight at the time. These hats effectively protected against falling objects and harsh weather but posed significant risks for electrical work due to aluminum's excellent conductivity.
In the 1940s, Bullard introduced the three-rib, heat-resistant fiberglass hard hat. Soon, fiberglass was replaced by thermoplastic because it was less costly and better suited for heat resistance. In the 1980s, Bullard once again revolutionized the hard hat by focusing on proper suspension for fieldwork purposes. This marked a new era in the standards and safety of head protection gear. The new design integrated a non-slip ratchet suspension helmet with a knob at the back for easy sizing. Known as the 3000 R model, it is made from polyethylene plastic, making it extremely lightweight, durable, easy to mold, and non-conductive to electricity. The plastic is also treated with an ultra-violet inhibitor to protect it from outdoor environmental conditions.
Various accessories can be added to regular construction hard hats, such as face shields, sun visors, lamp attachments, ear/neck protectors, hearing protectors, perspiration-absorbing cloth linings, radios, pagers, walkie-talkies, and cameras. The future of hard hats may include ventilation options, allowing workers in extreme climates as well as normal conditions to wear them comfortably.
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