Q: Are any of the hard hats made of fiberglass?
A: NO, all hard hats are made of HDPE (high density Polypropylene). MSA Skullgard caps are made of Phenolic Resin which is highly heat resistant. Bump caps are made of low density Polypropylene. Bump caps are not ANSI approved head protection. It is very unlikely that’s hard hats will ever be made of fiberglass.

Q: What hard hats do we carry, which can be worn backwards and still comply with ANSI and OSHA standards?
A: Hard hats should not be worn backwards unless they include a swing ratchet suspension. These are sold separately. Currently we only carry this suspension option for MSA and Fibre-Metal hard hats.

Q: What is the advantage/disadvantage to full brim hard hats?
A: Full brim hard hats do not offer any additional protection except for sun blockage. It is a matter of personal preference and employer requirements. Some full brim hard hats (MSA) do not have accessory slots.

Q: Are we going to get any more NASCAR hard hats in?
A: NO, MSA has discontinued production because drivers change sponsors and cars every year.

Q: How does the suspension work, what constitutes a necessity for pin lock or ratchet suspension is that a requirement for certain businesses or is it a matter of the wearer’s preference?
A: Usually it is a matter of preference, since cost is a factor. Ratchet-style suspensions include a knob which is turned to adjust the hat to the desired head size/comfort level. All other suspensions require the user to adjust prior to donning.
Here are the different names for Ratchet suspensions:
MSA- 4-Point Fas-Trac and Swing Ratchet (Models: V-Gard, 6-Point Advanced Vented, Topgard, Skullgard, and Freedom Series).
Bullard- 6-Point Sure-Lock (Models: 3000 and 303)
Fibre-Metal- 8-Point Action-Gear Ratchet (Model: Supereight Cap and Supereight Full Brim).
North- 4-Point Ratchet (Models: Peak and Matterhorn Type II)
Jackson- (all models have adjustable 4- point ratchet only).
Vulcan- 6 Point Ratchet (Model: Cowboy Hat).
Pyramex- 4-Point Ratchet and Full Brim (Models: Cap and Full Brim).
Here are the different names for Pin Lock suspensions:
MSA- 4-Point Staz-On and UniPro (Model: V-Gard).
Bullard- 4-Point Pin Lock (Model: 5100)
North- 4-Point Pin Lock (Model: Peak and Everest Wide Brim).
Vulcan- 6-Point Squeeze-Lock (Model: Cowboy Hat).
Pyramex- 4-Point Snap Lock (Model: Pyramex Hard Hat).

Q: What is the service life of a hard hat?
A: Safety hats are one of the most common pieces of personal protective equipment, but sometimes they are taken for granted. Many people don't realize that safety hats, both the shell and suspension, need to be inspected not only during assembly, but also before each use. The user should visually inspect the hat for signs of dents, cracks, penetration or other damage due to impact, rough treatment or unauthorized alterations which may reduce the degree of the safety originally provided. Employer's policy or recommendation from standards may be different, but under normal use, field tests have shown that generally, shells have a life of at least 3 years from the time of issue and that suspensions may deteriorate more rapidly in service. For hats that are used infrequently and stored away from sunlight, dirt and temperature extremes, this guideline may not be applicable. Conversely, hats that are used in an aggressive environment, extremes conditions or poorly stored may need to be replaced more frequently. In all cases, THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE SAFETY HATS WILL DEPEND ON THE USE, CARE AND STORAGE.

Q: The Fibre-Metal hard hats… what is Thermoplastic…? Is it metal… hence the name Fibre-Metal...?
A: Thermoplastic is a name for HDPE or LDPE or Phenolic Resin. It is what most all hard hats are made of. Fibre-Metal is only a brand name it’s not a description of their hard hats.

Q: What does slotted and non-slotted mean?
A: Slotted means there are slots on the side of the hard hats to allow for accessories such as cap-mounted ear muffs and faceshield brackets. Non-slotted means there are NO slots for accessories.

Q: Does the difference in price mean different quality? For example: the Peak Pin Lock hard hat our price: $4.85 … is it lower in quality that the MSA TopGard hard hat our price: $22.55 …???
A: Read the product descriptions on the website. TopGard HTE is designed for use in high-temperature areas and it also has ratchet suspension. Both of these properties make it more expensive than the North Peak Pin Lock, which is NOT designed for use in high-temp environments and has a lower quality suspension.