What is "hard hat"

also hardhat, hard-hat, late 14c., "helmet;" 1935, "derby hat;" meaning "safety helmet" is from 1953; used figuratively for "construction worker" from 1970.

alt. A helmet, usually made from rigid plastic, used on construction sites to protect the head from falling objects. n. A helmet, usually made from rigid plastic, used on construction sites to protect the head from falling objects.

1. n. a worker skilled in building offices or dwellings etc. [syn: construction worker]

2. a lightweight protective helmet (plastic or metal) worn by construction workers [syn: tin hat, safety hat]

A hard hat is a type of helmet predominantly used in workplace environments such as industrial or construction sites to protect the head from injury due to falling objects, impact with other objects, debris, rain, and electric shock. Suspension bands inside the helmet spreads the helmet's weight and the force of any impact over the top of the head. A suspension also provides space of approximately 30 mm (1.2 inch) between the helmet's shell and the wearer's head, so that if an object strikes the shell, the impact is less likely to be transmitted directly to the skull. Some helmet shells have a mid-line reinforcement ridge to improve impact resistance. The rock climbing helmet fulfills a very similar role in a different context and has a very similar design.

Blue-collar workers, especially construction workers engaged in occupations that require protective equipment are sometimes referred to as "hard hats".

A bump cap is a lightweight hard hat using a simplified suspension or padding and a chin strap. Bump caps are used where there is a possibility of scraping or bumping one's head on equipment or structure projections, but are not sufficient to absorb large impacts, such as that from a tool dropped from several stories.