Effective January 1, 2026, Nabholz will require personnel to wear Type II safety helmets equipped with chin straps on all job sites. Traditional hard hats (Type I) will no longer be permitted.
We are making this transition to elevate our safety standards and ensure every worker is protected to the best of our ability. Type II safety helmets meet — and go beyond — OSHA’s ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 standards to protect workers from falling objects and impact hazards.
Benefits of Type II Safety Helmets
- Increased Impact Protection. A Type II safety helmet protects the wearer from top, side, front, and rear impacts to the head. A traditional hard hat only protects the wearer from vertical (top) impact injuries.
- Energy Absorption. Includes internal foam padding and a more robust suspension system to absorb energy from impacts from multiple directions.
- Chin Strap. Includes a 4-point chin strap to ensure the helmet stays securely on the head, especially during slips, trips, or falls.
- Testing Standard. Meets ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 standards required by OSHA.
- Modern Design. Typically has a low-profile, helmet-style shape that offers more stability and coverage.
Why the Change?
The construction industry has the highest fatality rate of any industry in the U.S. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 39% of these fatalities in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By adopting Type II safety helmets with chin straps, Nabholz is committed to reducing the number of traumatic brain injuries caused by these accidents. Type I hard hats often fall off or fail to properly protect the wearer from injury during falls, slips, and trips.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. Nabholz requires chin straps on all safety helmets by Jan. 2026. Everyday job site activities run the risk of knocking off an unsecure helmet — not just high-risk tasks like working at elevated heights or near heavy machinery. Chin straps are designed to prevent safety helmets from falling off during any accident, thereby reducing the risk of a serious head injury.
When fitted correctly, a chin strap should sit securely under the chin without restricting movement or breathing. In addition, most straps are equipped with a quick release mechanism to remove the helmet if needed during an emergency situation.
Yes. Not only do safety helmets meet OSHA ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 standards — they exceed them. In 2023, OSHA published a Safety Health and Information Bulletin comparing Type I and Type II head protection. In it, they determined that Type II safety helmets were “the most appropriate from of head protection for its employees” because of their multi-directional impact protection.
Some trades require more PPE than a chin-strapped safety helmet to safely complete work. Additional options such as face shields or vented helmets are readily available for Type II safety helmets.
- U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)
- American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC)