Can You Wear a Bump Cap Instead of a Safety Helmet?
Safety helmets are a mandatory requirement in some workplaces, including for the majority of construction sites in the UK. We are sometimes asked if a bump cap can be used instead and the answer is always no, a bump cap should not be worn where an industrial safety helmet is required.
Bump caps and industrial safety helmets are made to different standards and serve different purposes:
Bump caps are tested and certified to EN 812, providing protection to the wearer from the effects of striking their head against stationary objects, but do not offer protection against falling masses.
Industrial safety helmets provide head protection to EN 397 and are designed to protect the wearer from falling masses.
Bump caps can be suitable for use in situations where stationary structures pose a risk to the head, such as working around low ceilings, pipework, or on an automated production line.
As they are intended to protect against bumps and scrapes from static objects, bump caps are tested with an impact energy of only 12J. These close-fitting baseball cap style products are not intended to protect against falling masses and should never be selected instead of an industrial safety helmet in that environment.
Content created in partnership with JSP
JSP Safety Ltd is a leading UK manufacturer specialising in above‑the‑neck personal protective equipment (PPE), supporting workplace safety through education, product development and technical guidance.
