A bump cap is a type of headgear that is commonly used in workplaces where there is a risk of head injuries from falling objects or colliding with objects. Bump caps are designed to protect against abrasions, cuts, and scrapes rather than impact forces. They are typically made of soft materials like foam or fabric, and they often include a visor to protect the face from debris. Bump caps are commonly worn in conjunction with other forms of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hard hats or safety glasses.

What exactly are bump caps used for?

Bump caps are most commonly used in industrial and construction settings, where they protect against minor bumps, scrapes, and bruises. They are also used in food service and other industries where falling objects pose a risk of injury to the head. Bump caps are typically made of high-density polyethylene or another durable plastic and fit snugly over the top of the head.

While bump caps provide some protection, they are not intended to be used instead of hard hats. Hard hats are required in construction zones and other areas where there is a risk of serious head injury. Bump caps should only be used in low-risk environments.

How are bump caps tested?

EN 812 is the safety standard for certified industrial bump caps. The impact/shock absorption test and the penetration test are the two methods used to determine whether bump caps meet EN 812 standards.

Impact/shock absorption.

Bump caps are designed to protect the wearer from static objects (for example, walking into low ceilings or hanging obstacles).

To conduct the impact test, a 5 kg flat striker is dropped onto the bump cap from a height of 250 mm, with a maximum allowable transmitted force of 15 kN. Impacts are carried out on the front and back of the bump cap, with the head form tilted at 30° and 60° to reflect the nature of any impacts that may occur in use.

Bump caps are designed to protect against sharp or pointed objects, including corners and protruding elements of static objects.

A penetration test uses lower energy and involves dropping a 500g striker from a height of 500mm onto a bump cap attached to a fixed head form.

By reading this blog, you should now understand the uses of a bump cap and when it is appropriate to wear one. You should also know that they are not a replacement for hard hats and are only tested for a limited amount of impact/shock absorption and penetration. If you were planning to buy a bump cap but now want to buy a hard hat instead or in addition to a bump cap, check out our blog on hard hat colour coding here. However, if you want to browse our selection of head protection.