The first hard hats appeared on construction sites in 1919 and were produced employing a process involving steam and canvas. Now provided by employers, hard hats are predominantly fabricated from high density polyethylene or thermoplastics materials and for safety reasons, should be replaced about every 5 years. We’re all familiar of course with the most common colors that signify specific job functions on the construction site, but “fashion” is now making a statement as this gear can also be found in an array of “camo-coloured” options as well.

What’s changed most significantly however, (and most recently), is the role of a hard hat. It’s purpose is no longer simply focused on protecting a worker from falling overhead debris or even electrical hazards, rather, it’s evolving as a crucial tool that integrates and delivers up to date information contributing  both to worker safety and worker & job site efficiencies.

Intelligent hard hats provide sensor-based information such as contextual awareness of surroundings, audio-visual communications, wireless connectivity and hands-free video or audio calls, to name just a few of their options. Offering real-time positioning, they can help to warn workers of hazardous conditions on the job site or more directly, monitor the temperature of the wearer to help improve worker health and safety. Workers who are on remote work-site locations can communicate directly with off-site experts to handle challenging situations or even to notify when they are in need of help. A smart, connected hard hat helps to warn workers of moving equipment nearby while it also assists logistics teams to manage inventory control, worker safety planning and even time and attendance monitoring.