The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) is proud to support groundbreaking research to improve safety standards in the construction industry, particularly through sponsoring the study of advanced head protection. By funding research into Type II construction helmets, JRGF aims to promote wider adoption of these helmets over traditional hardhats. With enhanced impact protection and side coverage, Type II helmets can offer superior protection against head injuries, addressing a critical need in a high-risk industry. This research partnership will establish the first-ever safety rating system for construction helmets, helping contractors make more informed choices and improving job site safety across the industry.
Thirteen years after releasing the first independent safety ratings for varsity football helmets, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab is expanding into the construction industry. This summer, researchers will begin an 18-month study to develop the first ratings system for safety helmets, commonly referred to as hard hats or construction helmets, using their five-star scale. This project is being funded and guided by the John R. Gentille Foundation, ELECTRI International, the American Society of Concrete Contractors, and The Association of Union Constructors in an effort to reduce the number of head injuries in our industry.
The lab has previously conducted injury biomechanics research outside sports, including toy product safety and drone impact testing. However, this is the first time they will develop a ratings system for a non-sports helmet.
“Construction has the most workplace fatalities,” said Steve Rowson, Helmet Lab Director. “Better head protection could be life-saving in many accidents.”
Between 2000 and 2008, the construction industry had more traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) than any other industry, according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The project’s objectives are:
- Analyze head impacts in construction through accident reports and surveillance video.
- Translate real-world conditions to controlled laboratory tests.
- Test and publicly release data on available safety helmets on the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings website.
The lab will use its Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk (STAR) model to compute overall performance scores for helmets, assigning a rating from one to five stars based on a series of impact tests tailored to construction helmet conditions.
“We are honored to support research that will improve the safety of the men and women building our nation by focusing on the industry-specific factors that contribute to head injuries,” said Raffi Elchemmas of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America. “We are all committed to finding solutions to the challenges that the construction industry faces every day and confident this project will lead to improved head protection and reduce injuries.”
The project is scheduled for completion by August 2025.
“We hope this work reduces disabling or fatal head injuries by providing stakeholders with data to make informed decisions on the most effective personal protective equipment,” Rowson said.
Learn more about the lab’s methodology, history, and upcoming project by watching the video on Virginia Tech’s website.
To conduct tests representative of real-world head impacts experienced in an industrial setting, we need to learn how industrial workers get injured on a job site. Information such as the injuries incurred, approximate fall height, fall surface, head impact location, and the head impact surface are crucial in reconstructing these scenarios in a laboratory setting. We understand this information is extremely sensitive, therefore, the entire survey will remain completely confidential and anonymous. No identifiable personal (i.e., name, date, contact information, location) or company information will be collected. If you are willing to share additional information or data about workplace injuries, please complete the survey below.
Thank you for your consideration and help with this important research that will ultimately reduce traumatic brain injuries and deaths in the workplace.
