Safety helmet mandatory?

It is important to know that there are laws and regulations that make the wearing of safety helmets mandatory in under specific circumstances. Employers are obliged under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to provide a safe working environment. Within that obligation, they should provide the right PPE, such as a safety helmet, if necessary. The safety helmet is mandatory in situations where there is a risk of injury to the head. Workers are obliged to wear the protective equipment required by their employer.

However, we cannot mention it often enough; even if wearing a safety helmet is not mandatory, it is still important to wear it to protect against any accidents. Head injuries can have a huge impact and can even be life-threatening.

The main standard for safety helmets in the Netherlands is European standard EN 397. This standard specifies a minimum requirement in terms of safety, performance, test methods and brand details of the safety helmet. Safety helmets that comply with this standard must bear a CE mark. This standard applies to industrial safety helmets, which are used in situations where there is a risk of injury from falling or falling objects.

The EN 397 standard thus provides a guarantee of construction helmet safety and sets minimum requirements for helmet safety and performance. Employers are obliged to provide helmets that comply with the EN 397 standard with a CE mark.

The standards of EN 397 should be considered a minimum. In situations where there is a greater risk of head injury, such as when working at height or with heavy machinery, employers may choose to use helmets that meet stricter requirements than the standard requires.