PPE - Hard Hats

[psimmo]

Good morning all, just a quick query with regards to hard hats and their shelf life.

I was wondering if it is a legal requirement to throw away hard hats after they have passed their shelf life, which i understand is 5 years from date of manufacture (or of course following damage etc)?

All Regulation 7 of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations states;
PPE will have a useable ‘shelf life’. When it exceeds its shelf life or is so badly damaged that repair is not possible or too costly it should be replaced.


So it doesn't state 5 years as such, but is "shelf life" assumed to be 5 years?

For the avoidance of doubt, i am not suggesting that i am loathe to replace PPE.

Thanks all.

[Andyblue]

A quick look at a well known PPE provider site shows their hard hats have a 'shelf life' of 5 yrs but recommend changing sooner. How often were you thinking of replacement?

[psimmo]

Many thanks Andyblue.

Generally they would always be replaced within 5 years. We've a few office based staff who maybe only visit sites four or five times a year. Their hard hats are still gleaming new, despite being manufactured in 2014. Its not a problem in investing in new ones, it just seems a shame when these seem in perfect condition still. I'm no hard hat expert though and will follow those who are.

Thanks ever so much for your thoughts.

[bernicarey]

One place I worked at we used hard hats that had gone over their life as Bump Caps.
No need for a rated safety helmet if it's just to stop you bumping your head in a low ceiling, or working somewhere with low pipes etc.