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Hard Hat Awareness Week 2026: Why the UK's Most Common PPE Is Still Being Used Wrong
- Berkshire Safety Consultants
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
Every year, we talk about hard hats. And every year, the numbers remind us we're not talking about them enough.
In 2023/24, 5,821 non-fatal head injuries were reported to RIDDOR, the highest figure in a decade. 44 workers died from a head injury that year, making it the single most frequent fatal injury type recorded by the HSE. They're happening on ordinary sites, in ordinary workplaces, to workers who were wearing their PPE.
The problem isn't always the absence of a hard hat. Often, it's how it's being used.
Comfort complaints are usually a fit problem
One of the most common reasons workers resist wearing hard hats or wear them incorrectly is discomfort. But a hard hat that causes headaches or pressure is almost always one that's been poorly fitted. Modern hard hats are engineered with adjustable suspension systems and lightweight materials specifically to address this. If it's uncomfortable, adjust the harness. If that doesn't fix it, it may be the wrong type for that worker.
Dismissing discomfort as "just part of the job" is how you end up with hats worn backwards, tilted, or left on the van.
Wearing it backwards isn't a grey area
A hard hat worn backwards unless it's a reverse-donning approved model is not providing the protection it was designed to. The suspension system, the brim angle, the shell geometry: all of it is engineered to work in one direction. This is one of those myths that has somehow become normalised on certain sites, and it needs to stop.
Most people don't inspect before they use
Your hard hat should be checked before every single use. Shell, suspension, headband, chin strap if applicable, date markings. Cracks, dents, discolouration, chalkiness, any of these are grounds for immediate replacement. The problem is that damage isn't always visible, which is exactly why the pre-use check matters. An impact even one with no visible result can compromise the protective properties of the shell entirely. If a hat has taken a knock, replace it. No exceptions.
Stickers are not as harmless as they look
A stickered-up hard hat is a common sight on site. But excessive or large stickers can hide cracks and damage, react with the shell material and weaken its integrity, and compromise electrical insulation. Always check the manufacturer's guidelines before applying anything to a hard hat and be cautious.
Storage matters more than most people think
Hard hats degrade faster than most people realise when stored incorrectly. Direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, and proximity to chemicals all shorten a hat's lifespan, which is why leaving one on the rear parcel shelf of a van is genuinely a safety issue, not just bad practice.
Replacement isn't optional
Most hard hats have a manufacturer-recommended replacement period of two to five years from the manufacture date, not the purchase date, and not the date you started using it. That stamp is inside the hat. If you don't know when it was made, that's already a problem.
Hard Hat Awareness Week 2026 runs 8–14 June.
At Berkshire Safety Consultants, we're proud to be an official sponsor, not because it's good marketing, but because this is exactly what we do every day: help businesses move from compliance on paper to safety in practice.
If your team's PPE knowledge needs a refresh, or you want to talk about how to build a genuine safety culture on your sites, get in touch.
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