A feasibility study of introducing chin straps of safety helmets as a statutory requirement in Hong Kong construction industry

• Published in: Safety science Vol. 65; pp. 70 - 78
• Main Authors: Fung, Ivan W.H., Lee, Y.Y., Tam, Vivian W.Y., Fung, H.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01.06.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chin strap; Construction safety; Medical sciences; Occupational medicine; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Safety helmet; Hong Kong; Asia; China; Safety helmet; Chin strap; Construction safety; Human; Work safety; Helmet; Safety requirement; Feasibility; Occupational exposure; Individual safety equipment; Occupational medicine; Construction industry
• ISSN: 0925-7535; 1879-1042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2013.12.014

•Fall of person with skull injury is dominating the cause of death in construction industry.•Past accidents have proven that rolling off of helmet can be fatal.•The research is to figure out the current usage, safety performance of using chin strap at helmet.•Helmet will be rolled off such as heading up/down, in windy condition and with slight impact.•The most significant findings: inadequate cognition for workers without wearing chin strap. Safety helmets contribute to the protection of head and wearing it is a statutory requirement in Hong Kong construction sites. However, there is a lack of secured system between the helmet and head which caused rolling off of helmet in few circumstances. A chin strap has a design function that secures the head and helmet in order to prevent it from rolling off. This paper aims to identify the current usage, safety performance and negative impact of using chin straps on safety helmets in the Hong Kong construction industry. It is found that effectively using chin straps can secure the helmets onto head and prevent it from rolling off. However, retractable chin straps brought greater discomfort to the workers than adjustable chin straps. It is also figured out when workers did not wear chin straps, there are few circumstances that will cause the helmets to roll off such as heading up/down, windy condition and slight impact. The most significant finding is that there is inadequate knowledge and cognition for workers who did not wear chin straps. It is thus necessary for the relevant government departments to revise the statutory requirements on safety helmets. Construction companies should also encourage the workers to use chin straps so that the safety performance of construction industry can be improved.