Ergodyne Chill-Its 6670CT Hard Hat Sun Shade — Clip-On Evaporative Neck Cooling

Standards and regulatory context

There is no OSHA heat standard, which is exactly why heat cases are cited under the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act. The technical basis is the NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments (2016), which sets recommended exposure limits against WBGT and acclimatisation state — a worker's first days in the heat are the highest-risk ones, and most fatal cases occur in that window. Evaporative cooling products only work where the surrounding air can still take up moisture, so their benefit falls as humidity rises, and no cooling accessory replaces water, rest and shade.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Ergodyne Chill-Its 6670CT?

A clip-on hard hat attachment that drops an evaporative cooling shade over the neck: sun protection and soak-and-wear cooling in one piece, in hi-vis lime. It covers the strip of skin outdoor crews burn first.

How does it attach?

It clips to the hard hat shell and hangs the shade panel over the neck. Verify it doesn't interfere with your suspension or any other shell-mounted accessories on first install.

Does it cool or just shade?

Both — the shade blocks direct sun, and the evaporative material adds active cooling when soaked: wet it, wring it, clip it on, and evaporation works the back of your neck while you work.

Why the neck specifically?

It's the most-burned spot in outdoor trades: heads-down work points it at the sun all day, and hard hats shade the face while leaving the neck exposed. Road crews, roofers, and surveyors know exactly which strip of skin this covers.

Neck shade or brim-style visor — which sun fix?

A brim-style hard hat sun visor extends coverage around the face; this neck shade covers the rear exposure. Heads-down trades burn the neck first and want this; face-forward work leans brim. Sun-country crews often run both.

Will it hurt visibility compliance?

It ships in hi-vis lime specifically to keep the visibility story intact. It's not itself a rated garment — your rated vest or shirt still does the compliance work — but it won't gray out your color scheme.

Does it work with the other Chill-Its hard hat accessories?

Yes — shell-mounted shade outside, suspension-side comfort inside: the 6612 top pad or 6614 sweatband kit handle sweat, the 6715CT insert adds crown cooling, and this shade covers the neck. Different mounting points, no conflict in most setups.

How long does the cooling last per soak?

Until the water evaporates — faster and colder in dry moving air. Re-wetting takes seconds at a cooler; as pure shade it keeps working even after it dries.

Is it a substitute for sunscreen?

It's shade — physical coverage for the strip it covers. Skin that stays exposed (ears, face, arms) still wants sunscreen; the shade just removes the worst repeat-burn zone from the equation.

How do I clean and store it?

Rinse clean, dry fully, store dry — stiff-when-dry evaporative material is normal and softens in water. Retire it when the panel tears, the clips crack, or the material stops rewetting evenly.

What jobs justify issuing these?

Any heads-down outdoor trade in sun season: road and rail crews, roofers, framers, surveyors, landscapers. At this price, one per hard hat in the summer kit is cheaper than one lost afternoon to sunburn misery.

How do I order for a full crew?

Quantity purchasing runs through a free Amazon Business account — volume pricing, PO numbers at checkout, and tax-exempt eligibility for qualifying organizations. The bulk-ordering walkthrough is linked in our site footer.