When to replace a hard hat
By Workrig team · Updated 2026-11-01
A hard hat does not have a legal expiry date in the UK, but every manufacturer gives a service life, and the HSE expects employers to follow it. Most say replace the shell after 3 to 5 years from first use, and the harness every 12 months.
Reading the date stamp
Under the brim you will find a moulded clock or wheel: the arrow points to the month and the number in the centre is the year of manufacture. Service life runs from the date you put it into use, not the moulding date, so write the issue date inside the shell.
Replace immediately if
- It has taken a significant impact, even with no visible damage; the shell absorbs energy by deforming.
- There are cracks, deep scratches, gouges or dents.
- The surface has gone dull, chalky or faded: UV has degraded the plastic.
- The shell has been exposed to solvents, paint, adhesives or stickers that are not approved.
- The harness is frayed, the cradle is cracked, or the adjuster no longer holds.
What EN 397 covers
EN 397 is the industrial safety helmet standard: shock absorption (5 kg striker from 1 m), penetration resistance, flame resistance, and a chin strap that releases between 150 N and 250 N. Optional markings add very low temperature (-20°C or -30°C), very high temperature (+150°C), electrical insulation (440 V a.c.), lateral deformation (LD) and molten metal splash (MM).
EN 12492 is the mountaineering helmet standard, increasingly used for work at height because its chin strap does not release; EN 50365 adds electrical insulation to 1000 V.
Care
Store out of direct sunlight, not on the rear parcel shelf of a van. Clean with mild soap and warm water only. Never drill it for ventilation or attachments.
