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This is a topic of frequent discussion and misinformation. The reason for these discussions is that there is no definitive answer in any legislation, codes of practice or standards. The model code of practice on how to manage work health and safety risks states PCBUs must ensure that PPE complies with relevant Australian Standards.

Australian Standard AS/NZS 1800:1998 Occupational Protective Helmets suggests that the use of stickers on hard hats is acceptable if they do not interfere with the protective function of the hard hat. AS/NZS 1800:1998 Specifically states:

“Before the application of adhesive tape, advice should be sought to ensure that the tape adhesive will not degrade the shell material. Generally, self-adhesive pads or stickers have been found to not affect the shell material adversely”

The sticker should not compromise the functionality or appearance of the hard hat in a way that it may lose its effectiveness as a means of protection.

How stickers may interfere with hard hats

Hard hats may become compromised when a sticker obscures any deformation or damage to the hard hat. If the sticker is too large or is made of solid colours. These sticker features have the potential to compromise the integrity of the hard hat as damage or deformation may go undetected.

The sticker adhesive can diminish the quality of the plastic. This is not an immediate threat as the corrosion takes time, however it can affect the hard hat integrity overtime. The adhesive can weaken the structure of the hard hat making it susceptible to breaking because the adhesive interacts with the hard plastic and deteriorates.

What to consider when designing a hard hat sticker

To avoid compromising the safety of a hard hat. Choose clear backgrounds that allow you to see through the sticker to easily identify any changes to the hard hat.
Choose non-corrosive materials in the manufacturing of the stickers to ensure that they won’t adversely affect the performance of the hard hat.

Remember to always perform regular periodic inspections of the hard hat identify defects and ensure the hard hat is replaced when it reaches the manufacturers end of service life.

How you can use stickers on hard hats to enhance emergency management

During emergencies it is important to identify supervisors and responders for not only staff but external agencies.

Stickers are one option used to identify persons to increase efficiency, improve security and operations.

There are many options that can be tailored to suit your workplace which include:

Designated roles – Warden, first aider, team leader, incident controller, paramedic, medic, Emergency response team.

Assigning competency-based stickers for qualifications and inductions