FAQ's

Hard Hats 101

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• What is the in-use life span of a hard hat?

  When a hard hat shows signs of wear and tear to either the helmet shell and the harness it should be replaced. It should also be replaced after any impact that would have caused the wearer injury, as the integrity of the structure will have been weakened. Although there is no set service life for hard hats, we recommend replacement after no more than 5 years.

  In-use, head protection gear is generally treated with a lack of care, often being thrown or dropped, used as a receptacle or carried on the rear window shelf of a vehicle. None of these actions are conducive to continued performance so ProChoice recommend users to regularly inspect both the helmet shell and its harness for signs of wear and tear and to store in a cool, dry place when not in use.

• When should I replace my hard hat?
  • Cracks appear in the shell
  • The shiny surface appears dull or chalky
  • The shell becomes brittle
  • Impact with helmet surface has been made
• When should I replace my suspension?

  You should replace your suspension when:

  • The suspension becomes brittle
  • One or more of the mounts break off
  • The suspension will no longer hold securely to the head
  • The cradling straps break or become worn
• Date stamp? is that like a "best before" date?
  No, we are required by the Australian Standards to mark each helmet with the month and year of manufacture. This should not be used as a basis for determining the life of an industrial safety helmet.
• What is the importance of the harness, apart from fitting the hard hat to the head?

  The harness works by stretching, which absorbs and distributes the force of the energy at impact, thus minimising the effect of the outside force. ProChoice has the patented ProLink anchorage design to connect the inside webbing which significantly improves shock absorption.

  Hard hats should be replaced after experiencing an impact as the harness may be weakened.

• Can the effectiveness of a hard hat be affected by modifications such as drilling holes for ventilation or to secure a light?
  Yes, the design of the hard hat is to give maximum protection at minimum weight. This is achieved by the ridging and moulding of the helmet shape. Any interference to the design will weaken the structure.
• Will the addition of chin straps, visors or earmuffs affect the effectiveness of the hard hat?

   

  ProChoice accessories such as chinstraps, ear muffs and visors have been designed to complement the ProChoice hard hats without compromising the effectiveness of the helmet. Official ProChoice accessories have been tested and certified by Australian Standards to meet their stringent criteria, when worn with ProChoice Hard Hats.
• Can I use the chin strap off helmets supplied by a different company?

  This is not recommended.

  Chin straps are not tested under AS/NZS 1801 for Type 1 helmets but in order to provide the best quality product, ProChoice Chin Straps are tested and certified by BSI against European Standard EN397:1995 Industrial Safety Helmet.

  Under the European Standard requirement, it became necessary for the chin strap to break when a specific load is applied. A ProChoice chin strap may break in a different manner to another company’s so it is recommended that you should only use a ProChoice chin strap on a ProChoice helmet.

• What is ProLock?

  ProLock is a patented, unique easy adjustment harness system for ProChoice hard hats which also incorporates the ProLink anchorage system.

  It removes the frustration and guess work out of properly fitting a hard hat. A comfortable and safe fit is achieved without having to remove the hard hat. ProChoice hard hats are also available in the more traditional PinLock adjustment system.

  

• What is ProLink?
  The ProLink anchorage system is used to connect the inside harness webbing to the hard hat and significantly improves shock absorption and the effectiveness of the hard hat. This feature is exclusive to ProChoice hard hats.
• How does a hard hart protect you?

  A hard hat protects you by providing the following features: 

  • A rigid shell that resists and deflects blows to the head;
  • A suspension system inside the hat that acts as a shock absorber;
  • If fitted with a brow guard, it shields your scalp, face, neck and shoulders from splashes, spills and drips;
  • If fitted with ear muffs, it provides protection for your hearing.