A Little Bit of Head Knowledge: Gray's Transition from Hard Hats to Helmets

Gray stays at the forefront of industry trends, often leading the charge for new safety measures and protocols. Several years ago, Gray analyzed incidents across all our jobsites, looking at not only the most frequent but also the most serious types of incidents, and determined that helmets would measurably improve worker protection over the traditional hard hat.

While hard hats are rated to provide impact protection for the top of the head, they are not rated to protect the side of the head. Conversely, helmets are rated for 360-degree impact protection and feature a chin strap to keep them securely in place.

Ned Brown, director of safety at Gray, said the investment has been worth it—even though the cost of a helmet is more than triple the cost of a traditional hard hat. “You can’t put a price tag on safety,” Brown said. “The switch to helmets has definitely enhanced our level of safety on the jobsite, which is the most important thing at the end of the day.”

As we observe Safety Week, Brown applauded the team members at Gray for their continued commitment to practicing safety. The motto this year is “Strong Voices, Safe Choices,” a hallmark of the Gray way that encapsulates our view on operating safely.

“We want every week to be Safety Week,” Brown said. “Everybody at Gray is empowered to speak up if they feel like there’s a safer way of doing things. It comes down to making sure these decisions and planning processes are done each day.”

Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event designed to highlight the importance of workplace safety and health programs. This annual campaign offers a platform for companies to share best practices, engage in safety activities, and encourage team member participation in identifying and mitigating workplace hazards.