Bump Caps

If you are a mechanic, plumber, electrician, or warehouse worker you will have undoubtedly stood up after working down low only to bash your head on something above you. This is where the bump cap can save a lot of pain and headache. Designed to look like a baseball cap and be as unobtrusive as possible these simple caps offer protection against bumps and scrapes that can be very painful. If you are more concerned about items being dropped on you then you should consider a Hard Hat instead!

Bump Caps - Protecting Your head From Scrapes & Impacts

Factory Maintenance Worker Wearing A Bump Cap

Our Bump Caps are excellent for use in areas with no risk of falling debris, but there is still a risk of bumps and scrapes. Bump caps are a key part of our head protection range; they are ideal for situations where a hard hat would be excessive, and head protection is still required.

We have all been in that situation when you are crouched down working only to stand up and hit your head on something sharp that you forgot was above you. These situations are where a bump cap excels; it can turn what would have caused a concussion or a deep cut into “just a bump”, hence the name.

Our bump caps are, for the most part, styled after baseball caps; they can also be branded as needed. This styling makes them visually suitable for all manor of industries from food production to working on vehicles. One important thing is that they are not a substitute for an industrial safety helmet and therefore do not generally get worn on construction sites.

Who Wears Bump Caps?

Warehouse Workers

Most warehouses have a minimal risk of falling objects; workers do, however, often have to lean under racking and shelving to place or pick things. With this comes the potential for hitting your head on supporting beams.

Mechanic Wearing A Bump Cap And Eye Protection

Mechanics

When working under cars, hundreds of bolt threads, sharp edges, and protrusions can cause a nasty gash. A mechanics bump cap can reduce the risk of an unpleasant, painful head-cut.

Factory Workers

When working in manufacturing, looking inside equipment or working under pipework and conveyors is common. These are often within reach of taller staff members, making bumps caps indispensable.

Police & Emergency Services

When attending an accident or similar incident, there can often be a need for head protection, such as assisting an injured person from a confined space or a crumpled car with sharp edges.

Maintenance Engineer Wearing A Aerolite Bump Cap

Maintenance Engineers

If you are working in a hospital corridor fixing an overhead wifi access point mounted to the ceiling, then it is more than likely that a bump cap would offer the best level of protection for your needs. Keeping your head safe from sharp ceiling tile supports and Allthread.

Plumbers

Boilers often have sharp corners and are almost always tucked away in a hard-to-access location. This makes a bump cap an indispensable piece of personal protective equipment, healing the wearer's head safe from impacts and abrasions.

Common Bump Cap Questions Answered;

Are Bump Caps Allowed On Building Sites?

The short answer is yes; the long answer to this is that it's complicated. When working indoors on a construction site in a finished building where the risk of “object generated impacts” (things falling from a height) is removed, there is no physical reason you could not wear a bump cap to protect yourself.

However, most construction sites will mandate that you wear a hard hat regardless to make the overall site safer and easier to manage. There is also a risk that you may forget to switch to a safety helmet that offers protection from falling objects if you venture outside. You must always check what PPE you need to wear before going to site and obey the site rules.

What Are Bump Caps Used For?

Safety bump caps are used to protect the wearer's head from any stationary object they may hit their head on. Some common scenarios include hitting your head on the underside of a staircase in a warehouse environment, the corner of a kitchen cupboard while accessing a domestic fuse box, or a balljoint thread on the underside of a car while carrying out servicing.

What is the best bump cap?

There are several designs on the market, and depending on your bump cap safety requirement, your needs may vary as to which design you settle on. Differences include the ability to withstand side impacts, added ventilation, the inclusion of a hair net, or just the colour.

Is a bump cap the same as a hard hat?

No, they are indeed both forms of head protection and are designed to protect the wearer from harm, but that is where the similarities end.

Hard Hats are designed to protect you from injuries caused by falling or flying objects, such as those dropped from scaffolding or flung from a machine. They can take a higher force of impact and are also suitable for wearing should you be the falling object.

You should only wear Bump Caps to protect yourself from stationary things. For example, they are ideal for protecting you if you walk into a low girder on a mezzanine floor or hit your head on the underside of a piece of machinery. They will prevent cuts and grazes and even mitigate a concussion, but that is where their use ends.

What Standards Do Bump Caps Have To Conform With?

All our bump caps comply with EN812, which specifies that a cap is tested to confirm its impact resistance. The test is carried out by dropping a 5kg flat striker from 25cm above the cap's crown four times.

Industrial bump cap standard EN 812 also requires that bump caps protect the wearer's head from sharp corners without being penetrated. This is tested by dropping a pointed, cone-shaped striker against the helmet with a force of 2.5 joules.

Key Bump Cap Features

When buying your bump cap, there are some features to consider that will help you to find the cap that best suits your needs.

HDPE Shell Of A JSP Hardcap A1+ Bump Cap

Side Protection

Not all bump caps are tested to offer protection from side impacts; if you require side impact protection, you should consider something like the Hardcap A1+ from JSP.

Ventilation

Do you work in a hot environment or carry out strenuous work? If so, you will want to ensure that your bump cap has adequate ventilation to keep your head cool.

Micro Peak And Long Peak Bump Cap Comparison

Peak Length

The length of peak required can be dictated by the aesthetic appearance you are going for and the role. If you are constantly looking upward in your position, you may want a shorter peak rather than a long peak to keep your line of sight clear.

Branding

We offer custom branding such as logo printing on some bump caps so you can brand them to your requirements.

JSP Bump Caps Can Weigh Less Than 135 Grams

Weight

No one wants to wear a heavy bump cap; our lightest bump cap comes in at only 135g allowing you to wear it all day long without discomfort.

Reflective Areas On A Hard Cap Aerolite Bump Cap

Reflectivity

If you work in a low-light level environment, you will want to ensure that any bump cap you choose is either high visibility or has reflective piping. This reflectivity will ensure you can be seen quickly by other workers.

Need help finding the right product?

Give our trained sales team a call on +44 (0)1905 794875, they will help you in choosing a suitable system for your needs and will also be happy to discuss discounts for bulk quantity requirements and special delivery need.

Why buy from Start Safety?

We have the full range shown above in stock on the shelf ready to ship out next day, we offer special delivery services and can even arrange same day delivery on many products.