Head Protection Basics: Bump Caps

When reviewing our selection of head protection, you may have come across a small selection of bump caps. These take the form of both baseball caps with additional reinforcement and cap style hard hats. While these hats are present alongside hard hats in our product offerings, and often are less expensive, they are not ever an alternative to hard hats.

Why is that? According to 29 CFR 1926.100, OSHA requires that “where there is possible danger of head injury from impact, or from falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns,” employees must be protected from that danger. That protection must specifically come in the form of PPE meeting ANSI standards (as detailed in 29 CFR 1926.100(b)(1)). These standards mandate a sturdier hat with a higher level of protection than bump caps offer.

So the short answer is, bump caps simply do not provide the kind of protection necessary where hard hats are required. But that does not mean that there is no place for bump caps in a safety plan. ANSI has also implemented a standard (ANSI/ISEA 100-2024) regarding bump caps that gives great insight into when to utilize them in the workplace. 

Specifically, they note that bump caps are meant to protect against “contusions, lacerations, bruises, and other injuries to the head caused by worker generated impact.” These are not meant to protect from items coming into contact with a worker’s head, but rather to protect from the worker’s head bumping up against other things in lower intensity situations.

With all of that in mind, we can see that in some specific settings, bump caps are the perfect PPE for the job. But, in cases where OSHA has mandated a hard hat that meets the ANSI standards laid out, bump caps can never be substituted. If you are unsure whether a bump cap is right for your situation, do not hesitate to give us a call at 919-602-2503 or reach out to marketing@safetypackonline.com. We are happy to help discern what is necessary in your environment.

Resources:

• OSHA Head Protection Standard: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.100
• ANSI Bump Caps: https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/isea/ansiisea1002024?srsltid=AfmBOoo7u9sjgYq16JHDazf1yD9l_4tUyNAhsPX_2ajBed8VlPM9IXwz