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Hard hats aren’t just part of a tradesperson’s uniform – they are an integral, life-saving piece of PPE. Showing up to work without your helmet can get you kicked off the jobsite, but wearing the wrong hard hat can get you sent home too.
Type I helmets have been the obvious choice in the past, but new regulations specify that helmets must account for impact and electrical protection, comply with codes CSA Z94.1-15 and ANSI Z89.1-2014, and must be Type II, Class E certified.
In response to these updated standards, Milwaukee Tools has developed helmets that effectively represent provincial and industry compliance.
Why are Type II, Class E certified hard hats the new standard?
While traditional Type I hard hats only protect wearers from overhead hazards, Type II helmets shield workers from both top and side impacts – ideal in environments where hazards can strike from multiple directions. Class E certified helmets provide dielectric protection against high-voltage electrical conductors up to 20,000 volts.
- Falls were the most common cause of hospitalization for traumatic brain injuries among working class Adults, at 37% (Between 2018 and 2023, aged 20-64)
- Type II helmets reduced fall-related concussion risk by 34% and skull-fracture risk by 65%, while Milwaukee’s top-ranked hard hats reduce concussion risk by 48% and 77% for skull fractures (according to a 2025 Virginia Tech study)
- Type II helmets performed up to 3.5x better versus Type 1, according to research published in the National Library of Medicine on transmitted force through lateral impact tests.
The goal is simple: keep every tradesperson safe on the job. That’s why every Milwaukee’s BOLT™ Safety Helmet includes a four-point chin strap, a BOLT headlamp mount, a marker clip, multiple accessory slots, and more! Milwaukee’s helmets define industry standards and demonstrate how strong, reliable safety protection should perform.
