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Since January 2015 the German OSH insurance organization for the building sector, BG BAU, has offered subsidies to encourage its affiliated companies to buy industrial protective helmets, in conformity with the standards in force.
In 2013, 12,600 accidents at work entailing head injuries were recorded, 5,400 of which resulted in a work disability exceeding 3 days. BG BAU felt that action had to be taken on the subject.
For the head to be well protected, industrial protective helmets must be able to dampen shocks and resist piercing. Helmets in conformity with DIN 397 or EN 14052 standards meet these requirements.
However, they have a limited lifetime which depends on the material used. This is because protective helmets are made of plastic materials, which age and become brittle. This phenomenon is mostly due to ultraviolet rays, the elements and mechanical stress. That is why protective helmets in thermoplastic polymers used mainly in the building sector should be changed every four years if they are used regularly and constantly. A helmet may also have to be changed if it has sustained a violent shock.
To encourage companies to allow for these aspects, the BG pays 50% of the cost price of the helmet, up to €30.
To find out more (In German)
