Changes to safety helmet colours

Changes to safety helmet colours are coming into force on the 1st January which will affect all construction and maintenance sites across the UK.

Highways England announced that they would be adopting a new hard hat colour system for all construction and maintenance sites across the UK (with the exception of Network Rail, who only permit blue and white helmets).

Build UK, created the code in April 2016 in order to improve safety during construction projects, and to make it easier to identify workers onsite. This means no more yellow hats!

The colour standards for safety helmets set out by Build UK are:

• Black – for Supervisors

• Orange – for Slingers/Signallers

• White – for Site Managers, Competent Operatives and Vehicle Marshall (the different roles are distinguished by the wearing of a different coloured high visibility vest)

• Blue – for all persons coming to the site who do not fall under any of the categories above

All helmets must meet the British Standard BS EN 397.

If you need any advice in regards to all aspects of safety and health Safetyboss can help; we can provide advice and practical training on all aspects of PPE provision and use.

We even have a suggestion for your redundant yellow hat!