Helmets also require periodic inspections of helmet testing equipment

As a crucial part of personal protective equipment, safety helmets are manufactured according to national mandatory standards. The service life of a safety helmet is calculated from the date of production. Plastic safety helmets should not be used for more than three years, while fiberglass helmets have a recommended service life of two and a half years. After the expiration period, companies must send the helmets to authorized testing institutions for inspection using specialized helmet testing equipment. Only those that pass the tests can continue to be used; otherwise, they must be discarded immediately.

Experts in occupational safety emphasize that each helmet should undergo proper evaluation using certified testing devices. The condition of the helmet—whether it's still "healthy" or not—is determined by the data collected from these tests, which helps prevent improper or unsafe use. During the testing process, a record is created for each helmet, and a label is affixed to indicate its status. Any helmets that fail the test must be destroyed and not reused. Safety should never be taken lightly, and the issue of overusing safety helmets should not be ignored. Everyone, especially safety officers, needs to pay close attention to this problem.

Field inspectors often focus on whether workers are wearing their helmets and if they are worn correctly, but fewer people check how long the helmets have been in use. This is a critical oversight. Prolonged use can cause the helmet shell to become brittle, significantly reducing its impact absorption (tested with a helmet impact tester), puncture resistance (tested with a helmet puncture tester), lateral rigidity (tested with a safety cap lateral rigidity tester), electrical insulation (tested with a hard hat electrical insulation tester), and flame retardancy (tested with a hard hat flame retardant tester). As a result, the helmet may no longer provide the necessary protection to workers.

According to recent surveys, many employees are unaware that safety helmets have a limited shelf life. Some continue to use them without proper inspection, even after five or ten years. In some cases, companies do not follow proper procedures due to cost-cutting measures or lack of strict management, leading to the continued use of expired or damaged helmets. This poses serious risks and undermines the purpose of safety gear.