Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Hard Hat

Happy birthday to the hard hat! This year, the hard hat is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. Learn more about the history of the hard hat and its changes over the years.

The hard hat was first created by an American man named Edward W. Buller as a result of the booming industrial growth and construction that was occurring in the early 1900s. With increased construction, laborers were at risk for serious bodily injury. Thus the idea of a protective head covering for construction workers, modeled after a military helmet, was born. The Bullard family manufactured the first official hard hat in 1919.

As a result of continually improving safety requirements for construction laborers and their workplaces, the hard hat has gone through major evolution. The first hat, coined the “Hard Boiled” hat in 1919, was made using steamed canvas, glue, and leather. By 1938, hard hats were being made with aluminum, providing the durability of metal. Evolution did not stop there. The 1940’s brought fiberglass, and the 1950’s led to a thermoplastic material that provided strength and cost-effectiveness. Today’s hard hats are produced using polyethylene plastic, yielding a hat that’s lightweight and protective.

Another evolutionary milestone in the production of the hard hat came in 1982. It was during this year that Bullard integrated a suspension system on the interior of their hard hats. Despite a heavy impact on the hat, the suspension system cushions the blow against the user’s head and absorbs some force of impact.

Here at Discount Safety Gear, we look forward to seeing what the future of workplace safety brings. We carry a variety of hard hats including several styles, colors, and the ability to customize or add logos.

Pyramex Ridgeline 4-Point Ratchet Cap Hard Hat (left);
Pyramex SL Series 4-Point Ratchet Hard Hat (right)

Hard hats aren’t all we have to offer! To check out our selection of high quality safety and personal protective gear, visit our online store.

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For more information on the evolution of the hard hat, visit the Bullard website here.

Looking for some extra reading? The New York Times published an informative article on hard hat evolution that can be viewed here.

Have questions or comments? Contact us toll-free at 1-877-734-2458.

Keep Your Eyes Safe & Protected!

Last time we covered ear safety so it makes some sense to talk about eye protection today. Eye protection is not spoken of as much as it should. You may not think your eyes need protection but surprisingly, they need as much protection as your ears do! Here are just a few of our safety glasses:

 

Safety Goggles are the most popular method of eye protection,as they can be used for nearly anything. They are also good for working outdoors, keeping debris out of the eye when doing outdoor work and even protecting against harmful splatters from chemicals. In addition to work, eye protection can also apply to learning and sports. Many schools use them for science classes involving chemistry or any other class that calls for the use of them. Some sports also involve the use of eye protection like swimming and skiing.

 

Shaded Safety Goggles can not only help protect your eyes externally but also internally, as well. Many of them protect against UV rays which can damage your eyes after prolonged sun exposure. We also recommend seeing your local eye care professional at least once a year to ensure your eyes are healthy and are getting the best care.

 

You can also choose from our many brands of safety glasses. Many of our brands are well-known, like DeWalt, 3M, and Pyramex. Choose from many shade colors like clear, blue, brown/bronze, or silver! And did you know you can also customize your safety glasses to include your company logo? They are perfect for your business, employees, or customers.

 

-CD

Can You See Me Now?

High Visibility, or High-vis, are not just limited to construction or anyone doing physical labor but other occupations. You may have seen a crossing guard, a construction worker, or even a jogger wearing high-vis. They are bright and visible, especially in the dark, wintry days. Dark environments and unpleasant weather conditions make it hard to see anyone who is outside, creating hazards. Snow in particular, makes it very difficult to navigate through, especially during blizzards.

Jackets are some of the best things you can wear in high-vis. You can wear it any time you are outside, whether you are using it for work or just shoveling snow from your sidewalk. Try a simple bomber jacket for the best in protection and warmth. Some, like the Pyramex Class 3 Weatherproof Fleece Jacket, is brightly colored and has five pockets. Two pockets are good but think about what you can do with five!

However, it’s not just snow that’s a challenge. Rain is also a hassle in some places, especially in places like California that recently had wildfires and are in danger of mudslides. Our raincoats, like our bomber jackets, are brightly colored and best of all, they can be worn by everyone. Wear them on your walk or out running errands! The Occunomix Breathable Rain Coat is ideal because it’s simple and very waterproof. Best of all, it’s ANSI compliant. And don’t forget the rainboots! Our rainboots are some of the best in price in addition to being made of some of the best material. Try the CLC Rubber Rain boot or if you like a little color, the Women’s Knee High Safety Boot.

You can also try our High-Vis accessories like these thermal gloves, our Boonie Hat which is bright orange and has a nice strip of the High-Vis material or even a seatbelt cover, which fits on just about any seat belt.

 

-CD

NEW Welding Helmets ⚡

We love these new helmets, they are sleek, clean and look great…but not just that. They have so many awesome features that none of our other helmets have. We wanted to give you some more information with a side by side comparison of the six new helmets. If you at any time need further assistance, you have a few options. You can chat with us on the site, call customer service or Facebook message us!

These new helmets are courtesy of Pyramex Safety.

 

We have four WHAM30 Autodarkening Helmets in Manual 98x87mm.

They are available in the Blue Fire, American Eagle,  Flame, or Glossy Black style.

 

 

These helmets are made of high-impact resistant nylon and have a fully adjustable nylon suspension.  They are supported by comfortable, pivot headgear pictured below. There is a magnification holder and four independent, staggered sensors. The viewing area is 3.858″ x 2.362″. The TIG Rating is 5 amps and below. This helmet is powered by solar cells and a replaceable lithium battery.

 

Headgear inside of helmet

 

We have two WHAM60 Autodarkening Helmets in Digital 100x60mm.

It is available in Metallic Blue or Glossy Black.

 

The WHAM30 and the WHAM60 have the same headgear, nylon body, sensors, high speed lens, welding shade range, cartridge size, ANSI and CSA rated, etc.

However, they do have some differences.

• The viewing area is slightly larger (100x60mm)
• It is DIGITAL
• There are two backup lithium batteries instead of one.

 

Are You Getting Enough Sleep? 💤

Americans sleep, on average, two hours

less than they did 60 years ago.

Some may argue that that’s a good thing and some may argue that it’s a bad thing. This information was found by the University of Chicago. I personally feel that to be productive in our working environments, we need our sleep. I was always told 8 hours of a sleep is a good night. Today, most working people in the U.S. (which is most of the population) sleep on average 6.1 hours per night. I know I wouldn’t be able to focus on 6.1 hours of sleep everyday.

 

50-70 million Americans have a sleep disorder.

Sleep disorders can include insomnia or sleep apnea. Insomnia includes those that cannot fall asleep at night or get a full night of sleep. Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder in which there are interruptions in breathing during sleep making it unrestful. Sleep is meant to rest the body, therefore sleep apnea is basically not even sleeping unless one is treated for it. About 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. 

 

Overtime jobs result in 61% higher risk

for injury.

Accidents are more likely to occur when people are in want of sleep. Therefore if you work overtime, or work evening shift, rotating or on-call shifts, you are more likely to be injured if you are not careful of your sleeping habits.

 

ADULTS SHOULD RECIEVE 7-9 HOURS OF

RESTFUL SLEEP PER DAY.

Okay…that may seem difficult. Maybe you have kids to take care of, maybe you need to work more, maybe you just can’t sleep. That’s okay. Just aim to at least get 7 hours / night and follow the following tips:

• Get to bed at a consistent time every night
• Avoid caffeine & food before bed
• Alternate work tasks often to keep mind engaged

 

 

 

*Thank you to the sleep center, ncbi, cdc, and blacklinesafety for this information.

Glove Coatings 101 🖐️

Different coatings on work gloves are available depending on what you are exposed to in daily work. Even though some are similar, they are different in important aspects. For example, nitrile and latex are similar but a person with a latex allergy may be able to wear nitrile gloves because they are synthetic. We are going to go over a few coating materials and what they can provide you.

However, all gloves are made differently so this is just an overview of these materials. Be sure to check the product descriptions on the specific product you are interested in before you purchase a pair in a certain category.

 

 

 

NITRILE COATING

• Excellent Dry Grip
• Thick for Snag, Puncture, Cut and Abrasion Resistance
• Stands up well to Oils, Petrochemicals, Fuels and Most Acids
• Made of Synthetic Rubber
• Great Alternative if Latex Allergy Exists

Check out, Wells Lamont Kevlar Shell Foam Nitrile Palm Gloves…

 

 

 

 

LATEX COATING

• Good Dry and Wet Grip (aqueous based liquids, animals fats, caustics, acids and alcohols)
• High Elasticity
• Resistant to Snag, Puncture, Cut and Abrasion

Check out Wells Lamont Latex Coated Work Gloves…

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEOPRENE COATING

• Good Dry and Wet Grip (heavy oils, acids, caustics, grease and solvents)
• Resistant to Snag, Puncture, Cut and Abrasion

 

Check out Wells Lamont Neoprene Textures Gauntlet Gloves…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POLYURETHANE (PU) COATING

 

• Good Dry Grip; Fair Wet Grip in Slightly Wet Conditions
• Very Thin Coating Allows for Excellent Tactility and Dexterity
• Great for Small Parts Handling
• Good Abrasian Resistance

 

Check out Memphis UltraTech Polyurethane Coated Palm Gloves…

 

 

 

 

 

 

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC)

• Barrier Protection (petrochemicals, oils and grease)
• Stays Flexible at Low Temperatures
• Economical Material
• Good Abrasion Resistance but May be Susceptible to Punctures, Tears and Cuts
• Effective Against Water and Detergents

 

 

Check Out Memphis High-Vis Oil Hauler Lined Safety Gloves

Beat the August Heat 🔥

We’ve recently added two new hard hat shades and two new cooling vests to the mix here on Discount Safety Gear. These four items are from Ergodyne and are all high visibility. This makes them great for anyone outside working construction or traffic patrol. We’ve got you covered, literally!

 

 

This Ergodyne GloWear Mesh Neck Shade (left) is perfect for August Heat. It covers the neck to keep it cool from sun while also making you visible. It is made of a lightweight mesh material and elastic to fit most hard hats. You can purchase this shade in lime or orange for only $6.15.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing some of the benefits as the shade above such as high visibility, cooling, and reflective, this Ergodyne GloWear Neck Shade (right) is also ANSI-Compliant. It is made of polyester, allowing for more sun protection and has hook and loop closure. You can purchase this neck shade in lime or orange for only $6.50.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ergodyne Chill-Its Evaporative Cooling Vest (left) is great for keeping cool for 4 or less hours. It is made of 100% nylon and is lightweight. You activate this vest by soaking in cold water for 2-5 minutes. This vest can be purchased in either high visibility lime or grey for only $39.50.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And lastly is a really cool product, no pun intended! It is the Ergodyne Chill-Its Dry Evaporative Cooling Vest (above). The awesome thing about this vest is that it has a reservoir that you fill with 13-20 oz. of water to keep you cool UP TO 3 DAYS.

Check it out on the website for more information!