Cherish life, say NO to a few dollars hard hat

It is well known that construction workers are required to wear safety helmets when entering a construction site. These helmets serve as essential protective gear, designed to safeguard the lives and safety of workers in hazardous environments. However, in recent years, there has been growing concern about the quality of some safety helmets on the market. Poorly made helmets fail to provide adequate protection, leading to serious injuries or even fatalities in certain incidents. This issue raises significant concerns about the overall quality of safety equipment used in the industry.

Currently, most large and medium-sized enterprises in China use imported ABS materials for manufacturing hard hats due to their superior impact resistance. However, with the sharp rise in oil prices over the past two years, the cost of this material has surged to approximately 20,000 yuan per ton. In contrast, some manufacturers opt for cheaper alternatives—such as recycled plastics or "return materials"—which can be purchased for as little as 2,000 to 3,000 yuan per ton, creating a tenfold price difference.

"Return materials" refer to various types of waste plastic bags collected from discarded packaging. Some recycling factories purchase large quantities of these materials, process them through basic recycling methods, and then sell them as plastic granules to helmet manufacturers. These low-quality raw materials are then used to produce safety helmets, often by small workshops or unregulated companies. After injection molding, painting, and polishing, the finished products may look like regular helmets, but they offer minimal or no real protection.

The impact resistance and aging resistance of such materials are significantly compromised. A simple squeeze by hand can cause deformation, and in extreme cases, the helmet might tear apart without providing any meaningful protection. These substandard helmets do not meet national safety standards. Each unit costs less than one yuan to produce, which explains why some vendors sell them for just a few dollars in the market.

Why do some companies choose to produce and sell these low-quality helmets despite the obvious risks? Apart from the low cost, what other factors contribute to this problem?

1. Fake and shoddy helmets have become widespread across the country. Many buyers prioritize price over safety, leading to an oversupply of cheap, low-quality helmets in the market. As a result, high-quality helmets struggle to compete. Whether in urban areas or rural towns, poor-quality helmets often outsell their safer counterparts.

2. Consumer demand plays a key role in this issue. Many people are unaware of the importance of proper safety equipment. Some companies lack a strong sense of responsibility, treating helmets merely as a compliance tool to pass inspections. They focus more on cost than on functionality, believing that accidents won't happen to them. This mindset contributes to the continued circulation of unsafe helmets, which do not meet national production standards.

China Labor Insurance Network