Head protection standards: One year on from BS EN 397:2025

BS EN 397:2025 ensures that industrial safety helmets meet the standards for protecting workers from head injuries in industrial environments through the improved drop speed measurements and added requirements for electrostatic properties and enhanced visibility.

The new regulations introduced two helmet classifications to help simplify helmet selection: Type 1 for protection from impacts from above and Type 2 for protection from impacts from multiple directions (off-crown impacts).

Compliance with the specific safety standards is essential. BS EN 397:2025 provides an assurance that helmets meet these standards, reducing the potential risk of legal issues and improving the reputation of your business as a safety-first organisation.

The regulations have specified requirements for three categories: design and performance, testing, and marking, with the intention of further protection against head injuries from impacts in industrial settings due to heightened standards for every element of the helmet.

The design and performance standards cover material, construction, internal and external distances, shock absorption, and resistance to penetration.

With BS EN 397:2025, there are now mandatory tests for these performance parameters including shock absorption and penetration resistance. Specific markings on the helmet are required to indicate compliance with the standard and any additional optional features.

It’s important to remember that head protection does not last forever – each helmet has a use by date marked on the inside to ensure sufficient protection. The UK’s National Hard Hat Recycling Scheme was established in 2017 to reduce the waste caused by the need to replace hard hats when they reach their expiry date, diverting hard hats into dedicated waste processing to recycle the material.

Under BS EN 397:2025, new compatibility tests have been implemented to improve how helmets work with accessories and other personal protective equipment (PPE) such as visors and ear defenders to bring the standard in line with global safety rules.

It is estimated that approximately 40% of all PPE used in the UK is counterfeit and not fit for purpose. It is essential that all PPE and safety helmets are purchased from reputable suppliers and that the equipment is maintained correctly to prevent injuries.

While BS EN 397:2025 reformed the standards for safety helmets, the changes do not impact the EN 812 standard for bump caps used to protect the wearer against the effects of hard or sharp stationary objects to the head.