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Republished from Mine Safety and Health News, Ellen Smith, Publisher Operators Can Expect a Citation if MSHA Finds Altered Hard Hats MSHA will issue a "protective clothing" citation to any mine operator where a miner is found to have an altered hard hat or a hard hat not suitable for the job. Recently, MSHA became aware of miners using hard hats that have been cut apart and glued back together in order to obtain a lower profile or have otherwise been structurally modified. These modified hard hats are unlikely to provide the protection intended by their manufacturer. MSHA is concerned that use of these modified hard hats will result in preventable head and neck injures, and a representative told Mine Safety and Health News that it does not find an altered hard hat "suitable clothing," under 56/57.15002, 75.1720 or 77.1710, and will cite the mine operator if it finds an altered hard hat. MSHA recently issued a program information bulletin, P07-16,addressing this issue. MSHA said it considers a "suitable hard hat" one that has been certified under a consensus standard to provide head protection in an industrial environment. MSHA recognized consensus standards include ANSI Z89.1, Standard for Industrial Head Protection, CSA Z94.1, Industrial protective headwear - Performance, selection, care, and use, BS EN 397, Specification for Industrial safety helmets, and BS EN 14052, High performance industrial helmets. In some circumstances, it may be necessary to provide miners with greater head impact/penetration protection, protection for the nape of the neck, or suitable head protection during firefighting.In these cases, head protection meeting military standards, National Institute of Justice riot helmet standard 0104.02, or firefighting helmet standard NFPA 1971 will be considered acceptable. Bump caps or sporting helmets not certified under a consensus standard (especially uncertified very low profile hard hats) and certified hard hats that have been modified without their manufacturer's concurrence are not "suitable hard hats" under the regulations. Further, certified hard hats that are not maintained in accordance with their manufacturer's instructions are not "suitable hard hats" under the regulations. MSH said operators should conduct a hazard assessment to determine the type of certified, industrial head protection that is required for the job. The hazard assessment should include observations of the job activities, interviews with employees about on-the-job hazards and the styles of hard hats that will not cause associated injuries (i.e., lower-profile hard hats for use under machine canopies), evaluation for a consensus standard that may provide greater protection for a specific hazard, and a review of the accident/injury history. The hazard assessment should indicate whether side impact protection is required. Additionally, mine personnel performing electrical work need hard hats suitable to the electrical hazard. Program Information Bulletin P07-16 $afepro recommends a site-wide examination of hardhats used by Miners and Quarrymen. An S&S Hardhat citation will have a fine of $1842.00 attached to it for the average size operation. A new hardhat costs under $20.00. A head injury is avoided by suitable hardhats! Inspectors will attempt to enforce outdated and pure myth relative to Hard Hats. As general guidance and your protection here are some general guidelines under ANSI Standard Z89.1-2003.
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