Safety Helmets

Short answer: safety helmets are hard hats with a chin strap and, usually, an ANSI Type II rating — meaning they are tested for lateral impact as well as impact to the crown. This shelf holds 39 helmets from Milwaukee, MSA, 3M, KASK, Ergodyne, Malta Dynamics, Jackson Safety and STUDSON. Two things decide whether any of them is right for your site, and neither is the price: the Type and the Class stamped inside the shell.

Modern safety helmets provide ANSI Z89.1 Type II protection — covering top AND lateral impacts — in a dome profile that is increasingly required on commercial construction projects. All products in this collection are ANSI Z89.1 certified. See best safety helmets guide for the full Type II comparison, and Type I vs Type II explained to determine if Type II is required for your site.

Top Safety Helmet Picks

ANSI Z89.1 Type and Class: the two ratings that actually decide the purchase

Under ANSI Z89.1 (published as ANSI/ISEA Z89.1) there are two independent axes, and both are molded into the shell. Type I is tested for impact to the top of the head only. Type II adds lateral impact — side, front and rear. They are not grades of the same thing, and a Type I helmet must never be substituted where a lateral-impact hazard has been identified. Separately, Class E is tested to 20,000 V, Class G to 2,200 V, and Class C offers no electrical protection at all.

Why a vented helmet can never be Class E or Class G

The vents are openings in the shell, so they break the dielectric barrier the electrical test measures. Any vented shell is Class C, however comfortable it is. Several models on this shelf ship in both forms — the DEWALT DPG22 (non-vented, Class E) and the DPG22V (vented, Class C) are the same helmet with different shells and different electrical ratings. Read the suffix before you order for a crew.

Is a Class E rating an arc-flash rating?

No — and this is the most consequential confusion in head protection. Class E is a dielectric test on the shell. Arc-flash exposure is governed by NFPA 70E and needs arc-rated face and head protection selected from an incident-energy analysis. A Class E hard hat is a necessary part of that kit; it is not the kit.

Where the shell material comes into it

Shell material is not a rating, but it constrains one. A carbon-fiber shell is electrically conductive, so it is Class C no matter how light or how expensive it is. HDPE and ABS shells can carry Class E or G. If a listing pairs a carbon-fiber shell with a 20,000 V claim, that claim is wrong.

How to choose safety helmets from this shelf

Work the hazard assessment, not the catalog. Ask three questions in order, and check each answer against the models on the safety helmets shelf, the hard hats shelf and the head protection hub.

Do you need Type II, or is Type I honest for this job?

Type II earns its premium where a strike can come from the side — steel erection, confined space, work at height, anywhere a fall means the head meets structure on the way down. For overhead-only hazards, a Type I hard hat from the hard hats shelf is not a compromise, it is the correct specification.

Does anyone on the crew go near energised equipment?

If yes, the vented options are out — Class E only, and the electrical work itself is scoped by OSHA 1910.269 and NFPA 70E rather than by the helmet.

Which models on this shelf answer those questions?

For Type II with a Class E shell, the Milwaukee BOLT Full Brim and the Klein Tools Type 2 non-vented are the straightforward picks; the MSA V-Gard H2 Full Brim and Ergodyne Skullerz 8963 cover the same brief with different suspensions. Where ventilation matters more than an electrical rating, the STUDSON SHK-1 vented is Type II but Class C. Full write-ups sit in our Milwaukee BOLT Full Brim review and Klein Tools Type 2 review.

Is a chin strap required, or just useful?

Work at height effectively requires retention — a hard hat that leaves the head on the way down protects nobody. Most helmets on this shelf ship with a strap; check whether it is included or an accessory before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a safety helmet different from a hard hat?

A safety helmet has a rounded dome profile and typically provides ANSI Z89.1 Type II (lateral impact) protection. A traditional hard hat has a flat-top shell and is usually Type I (top impact only). See Type I vs Type II explained.

Are safety helmets OSHA compliant?

Yes — safety helmets meeting ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 Type II, Class E are OSHA 29 CFR 1926.100 compliant and exceed the OSHA minimum. Type II provides more protection than the Type I minimum.

What is the best safety helmet for construction?

The Milwaukee BOLT and STUDSON SHK-1 are the top Type II safety helmets. See best safety helmets guide and STUDSON vs Milwaukee BOLT comparison.

Can safety helmets be used for electrical work?

Yes — if Class E certified. The Milwaukee BOLT Full Brim and STUDSON SHK-1 Non-Vented are Class E (20,000V). The STUDSON SHK-1 Vented is Class C (no electrical protection). Always verify the Class rating. See best hard hat for electrical work.

Related reference guides

• Do hard hats expire? — service life, date stamps, and replacement.

Does OSHA require a Type II safety helmet?

No. OSHA 1910.135 (general industry) and 1926.100 (construction) require head protection meeting ANSI Z89.1 where there is a hazard; they do not name a Type. The Type comes from your own hazard assessment.

How do I tell what Type and Class my helmet is?

Look inside the shell. The marking gives the standard, the Type and the Class, along with the date of manufacture. That marking is the claim the manufacturer can be held to — a product listing is not.

Can I drill or paint a safety helmet?

Drilling voids the rating outright. Paints and solvents can attack the shell without visibly damaging it, so use only what the manufacturer approves. Stickers are generally acceptable away from the crown, but they hide cracks — lift them at inspection.

When does a safety helmet need replacing?

After any impact, immediately, whether or not damage shows. Otherwise follow the manufacturer’s service life from the date-of-manufacture stamp — commonly around five years for the shell and less for the suspension. That interval is manufacturer guidance, not a figure written into Z89.1.

Are safety helmets and hard hats interchangeable on a compliance form?

Only if the Type and Class match what the assessment calls for. "Safety helmet" is a market term for the chin-strapped climbing-style format; it carries no rating of its own.

Does a more expensive helmet mean more protection?

No. Price tracks comfort, weight, accessory ecosystems and brand. Protection is the Type and Class, and aType I Class E hard hat out-protects aType II Class C helmet against an electrical hazard.

Our methodology

Type and Class on this page are read from the marking molded into the shell and from the manufacturer’s datasheet — never inferred from shell material, price or product name. Membership counts are read from the live collection rather than written from memory: this shelf currently holds 39 helmets. We run no laboratory tests and hold no safety certification. Reviewed by Steven Eaton, WC Safety Editorial.

Why trust this shelf

WC Safety is an independent review site. Nothing here is sold by us — no inventory, no warehouse, no order desk. Purchase links earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you, and no manufacturer pays for placement. Head protection on this site is under an explicit accuracy review: several pages in this category carried ANSI Type or Class ratings that did not match the product, and those are being corrected per SKU against manufacturer documentation. Where a rating cannot be confirmed from a manufacturer source, we say so rather than guessing.