Free toolbox talk · Struck-By · 10 min

Hard Hat Requirements

Construction and general industry · Ver en español

Talking points

  1. Type I hard hats protect from impacts to the top of the head. Type II hard hats protect from both top and lateral impacts — know which your site requires.
  2. Electrical classes matter: Class E is rated for 20,000 volts, Class G for 2,200 volts, and Class C provides no electrical protection.
  3. Inspect your hard hat daily — look for cracks, dents, fading, or a chalky texture in the shell, and check the suspension for tears or lost elasticity.
  4. Replace the suspension system at least annually, or immediately if it shows damage. Replace the shell every 5 years or per the manufacturer's guidelines.
  5. Do not drill holes in your hard hat, apply stickers over damage, wear it backward (unless designed for it), or store it in direct sunlight for extended periods.

Ask the crew

How old is your hard hat's suspension — and when was the last time you replaced it?

Standards this talk is built on

A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.

Run this talk with your crew and keep the record

In Jobsite, workers sign in on their phones in English or Spanish, and you keep who attended, when, and where, with every other talk your crew has had.

Using an AI assistant? Jobsite's free MCP server serves this library, with OSHA rule text, no sign-in: https://jobsitecerts.com/api/mcp/public (/mcp)

Sign-in sheet

Print this page to collect signatures, or run the talk in Jobsite and workers sign in on their phones.

NameSignatureDate

© Jobsite. Free to read aloud, print and use in your own crew's safety meetings. Republishing, reselling or bulk-copying these talks is not permitted.