May 5, 2025

It’s time for the construction industry to embrace Type 2 safety helmets

Inlow

Construction work forms a lot of core memories for those in the industry. For many, a vivid one is putting on your dad’s hard hat when you’re a little kid, the big thing flopping around on your head, way too big. There’s also the memory of getting your first helmet and putting on a sticker that holds special meaning. Our helmets are a reminder of who we are and where we’ve been.

But helmets today aren’t what they once were — they’re no longer the “Hard Boiled Hats” made of canvas and leather, painted black and coated with shellac that Edward Bullard first invented in 1919. All personal protective equipment (PPE) — like the move from wearing body belts to full-body harnesses, and the adoption of high-visibility vests — has evolved over time and what was once optional has become standard.

Now, it’s time to make the next safety evolution industrywide: the adoption of ANSI Type 2 safety helmets.

At Skanska, this change is already underway. Beginning June 1, all workers on Skanska USA Building jobsites in Seattle will be required to wear ANSI Z89.1 Type 2 helmets with chin straps securely fastened, joining our Skanska USA Civil colleagues, who have already implemented this change. Traditional hard hats will be transitioned to more modern versions. Skanska USA Building offices are implementing this change nationwide, though changeover dates will vary.

This isn’t a minor tweak. It’s a substantial step forward in injury prevention. And the rest of the industry should follow suit.

FROM OPTIONAL TO ESSENTIAL

Photos courtesy of Skanska USA [enlarge]

Type 2 helmets include a retention system — a chin strap — which helps keep the helmet in place during falls or unexpected impacts.

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Type 2 safety helmets are designed to protect against impacts from the sides, front and back of the head — not just the top.

It’s easy to forget that many pieces of now-mandatory PPE were once seen as optional — or even excessive. Safety harnesses weren’t widely adopted until the 1990s, despite decades of preventable fall-related fatalities. High-visibility vests were only made mandatory on federal highway construction projects in 2008. And jobsite gloves? Many seasoned workers will recall a time when hand protection was considered a matter of personal preference, not policy.

Each of these advancements came after years of data collection, injury analysis, and hard conversations across the industry. Today, they’re a given. You wouldn’t send a worker into a trench without a harness, nor would you overlook high-vis gear near heavy machinery. These standards didn’t emerge overnight — they were earned. And Type 2 helmets are now following that same arc.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

The distinction between ANSI Type 1 and Type 2 helmets is more than technical — it’s a matter of comprehensive head protection.

Type 1 helmets are designed to protect against impacts to the top of the head — typically from falling objects. This has been the traditional focus of construction PPE for decades.

Type 2 helmets, on the other hand, protect against impacts to the top, sides, front, and back of the head. They are built with an inner foam liner and a more secure, full-coverage design that is essential in preventing injuries from lateral and rotational impacts.

Perhaps most importantly, Type 2 helmets include a retention system —a chin strap — which helps keep the helmet in place during falls or unexpected impacts. This is especially critical in real-world conditions where slips, trips and uneven surfaces are common, and where a helmet that comes off mid-fall offers no protection at all.

The modern construction jobsite presents dynamic hazards that exceed the scope of protection Type 1 helmets were ever designed to handle. That includes everything from scaffolding mishaps to slips on wet surfaces, vehicle-related impacts, and tools or materials dropped from height. Type 2 helmets were built to address these very risks.

INJURY STATS: WHY WE CAN’T WAIT

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Several Type 2 options are available for workers to choose from.

The case for industrywide adoption of Type 2 helmets isn’t anecdotal—it’s sobering and motivating.

In 2023, the construction industry recorded 1,075 worker fatalities—the highest number since 2011, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly 40% were caused by falls, slips, and trips, often involving head trauma.

According to the CDC and CPWR (Center for Construction Research and Training), nearly 8,000 construction workers suffer head injuries annually, and 230 deaths were attributed specifically to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from these incidents.

One study published in Heliyon found that only a quarter to a third of impacts occur on the helmet crown, the area covered by Type 1 helmets, while 52%—62% of impacts occur to the helmet front and sides, which, in addition to the back of the head, is where Type 2 helmets have added protection.

If these workers had been equipped with Type 2 helmets — designed specifically to address these impacts — many injuries and fatalities could potentially have been prevented.

SAFETY AS A CORE VALUE

Safety is central to Skanska’s culture. That’s why this change is companywide. It aligns with our core value: Care for Life. The health and safety of people lies at the very heart of what we do. In situations that are physically or psychologically unsafe we refuse to be bystanders. We are changemakers and action takers.

Workers and subcontractors are being given clear guidance and access to pre-approved helmet models — such as the Studson SHK-1, KASK Zenith X2, and, if you like the traditional look, the Studson Full Brim—all of which meet the rigorous standards of Type 2 protection. Additionally, Skanska is emphasizing proper usage, including the consistent fastening of chin straps.

It’s not just about compliance — it’s about building a culture where safety isn’t negotiated. Where every worker from apprentice to superintendent has the right equipment to go home safely.

PREVENTION NOT REACTION

Workplace safety should never be reactive. It’s about designing systems and equipment that anticipate risk, not just respond to it. Much like how steel-toed boots protect against crush injuries or harnesses protect against falls, Type 2 helmets offer next-level head protection that reflects the real conditions of today’s jobsites.

And with more companies incorporating robotics, drones, and multi-level construction, the types of hazards workers face are only growing in complexity and scope. Jobsite safety must evolve in tandem.

This isn’t a matter of being first. It’s about doing what’s right, and about making decisions today that will save lives tomorrow. We’ve seen what happens when safety standards lag behind reality. We’ve also seen what’s possible when the industry comes together to raise the bar.

THE FUTURE OF SAFETY IS NOW

Safety standards should never be defined by what was once “good enough.”

We don’t need to wait for more injuries or fatalities to make this decision industrywide. We already have the data. We already have the equipment. What we need now is a unified commitment to doing what’s right.

Construction will always involve risk. But risk should never be an excuse for inaction. With smarter equipment, better data, and a relentless focus on worker safety, we can reduce injuries, prevent fatalities, and create a work environment that reflects the dignity and value of every person on the job.

Type 2 safety helmets represent the next leap forward in personal protection. Let’s not wait until they’re required — let’s lead by making them standard and putting our first stickers on our new Type 2 helmets and making many more memories with our coworkers for years to come.

Maria Inlow serves as Environmental Health & Safety Director for Skanska USA Building, first joining the company 22 years ago as a craft worker and Journeyman Laborer with Local 242.

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