Hard hats are synonymous with construction. From emojis to motivational posters to icons like Bob the Builder, the quickest way to identify construction workers has been via their brightly colored headgear.
But, some contractors have begun a shift in the name of safety: swapping hard hats for helmets, which they say better protect workers.
“It’s interesting that in construction, we have an innovative bunch of problem solvers who are out there everyday solving issues,” said Brian Jones, chief operating officer for Lexington, Kentucky-based Gray Construction. “But with the hard hat, the first plastic one was 1960, and it’s largely the same today. So 60 years later, [we’ve had] zero innovation when it comes to the hard hat.”
