AtkinsRéalis has introduced a new, more inclusive hard hat design aimed at improving safety and comfort for a diverse workforce on construction and industrial sites across the UK and Ireland.
The initiative was driven by Laurienne Buhinja, a quantity surveyor in project and programme services at AtkinsRéalis, who identified a crucial gap in standard personal protective equipment (PPE).
Buhinja explained: “As a black woman with braided hair, I found the conventional ‘one size fits all’ hard hat was not fit for purpose and provided less protection as a result. Construction workers today are not all one standard size and shape, or gender, and PPE equipment needs to reflect that.
“This is an issue for men and women with long hair, or hair styles and headgear for religious or cultural reasons which do not suit conventional hard hats, as well as many bald people who can find that standard issue headwear can rub and cause discomfort.”
The requirements for our modern workforce in industrial sectors have changed over the years, and this is the latest example of where PPE has had to adapt
Collaborating with PPE manufacturer MSA Safety, Buhinja worked to identify and trial a hard hat model that could accommodate different hair types, religious headwear, and a range of head sizes.
The result is the adoption of MSA’s V-Gard (trademarked) 930 shell with Fas-Trac (trademarked) III suspension, which offers greater internal space and adjustable fitting.
Buhinja added: “The initiative took a step forward when I spoke to MSA and worked with them to identify a hard hat from their range that takes account of this challenge. They really listened to our needs and constraints to make it more suitable for all AtkinsRéalis colleagues.”
If we want to create construction sites that welcome all people, we have to remove as many barriers as we can
Russel Pieters, Senior Field Sales Manager for MSA, noted the importance of evolving PPE to meet the needs of a modern, diverse workforce: “The requirements for our modern workforce in industrial sectors have changed over the years, and this is the latest example of where PPE has had to adapt.
“We were very supportive of Laurienne’s aims, and we have worked in partnership to identify the model from our range that would fit the best and which will provide more capacity for differing hair types, as well as comfort for any AtkinsRéalis colleague. We’re looking forward to making the V-Gard 930 hard hat available to our customer base across the region.”
This initiative is a brilliant example of small changes that can have a big impact
James Butler, Managing Director for Project and Programme Services at AtkinsRéalis, emphasised the broader importance of inclusivity within construction: “If we want to create construction sites that welcome all people, we have to remove as many barriers as we can to attract more people from all backgrounds into the sector, and make it as easy as possible for everyone to perform their work safely and comfortably.
“This initiative is a brilliant example of small changes that can have a big impact, and AtkinsRéalis has been proud to support Laurienne to turn an idea into a reality that can be rolled out on sites across the UK and Ireland.”
The updated hard hat forms part of AtkinsRéalis’s ongoing #PPEForAll initiative, a campaign aimed at delivering better-fitting, more inclusive PPE options for its employees.
The programme has already led to improvements, such as the installation of sanitary disposal facilities on sites and a wider range of PPE sizes and options.
The modified V-Gard 930 hard hat is now available to AtkinsRéalis colleagues who require it, addressing a long-standing issue for individuals whose hair styles, religious headwear, or personal needs were previously incompatible with conventional site safety equipment.
Top image: The modified hard hats are part of a wider campaign at AtkinsRéalis for better-fitting PPE