General industry and construction, side by side
The same question has two answers because OSHA writes two sets of rules. A shop, plant, warehouse or office follows 29 CFR part 1910. A construction jobsite follows 29 CFR part 1926.
| Topic | General industry (29 CFR 1910) | Construction (29 CFR 1926) |
|---|---|---|
| When a helmet is required | The employer must make sure each affected employee wears a protective helmet when working where there is a potential for head injury from falling objects.29 CFR 1910.135(a)(1) | Employees working where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, falling or flying objects, or electrical shock and burns must be protected by protective helmets.29 CFR 1926.100(a) |
| Near electrical conductors | A helmet designed to reduce electrical shock hazard must be worn near exposed electrical conductors that could contact the head.29 CFR 1910.135(a)(2) | Head protection for an employee exposed to high-voltage electric shock and burns must also meet section 9.7, Electrical Insulation, of the ANSI standard.29 CFR 1926.100(b)(2) |
| Which standard the helmet meets | Head protection must comply with ANSI Z89.1-2009, ANSI Z89.1-2003 or ANSI Z89.1-1997, each incorporated by reference in 1910.6.29 CFR 1910.135(b)(1) | The employer must provide head protection that meets ANSI Z89.1-2009, ANSI Z89.1-2003 or ANSI Z89.1-1997, each incorporated by reference in 1926.6.29 CFR 1926.100(b)(1) |
| A helmet to a different standard | A device the employer demonstrates is at least as effective as one built to those standards is deemed to comply.29 CFR 1910.135(b)(2) | OSHA deems a device the employer demonstrates is at least as effective as one built to those standards to comply.29 CFR 1926.100(b)(3) |
| When someone is exposed to falling objects | The employer must ensure each exposed employee wears head protection that meets subpart I, and must also protect employees by toeboards, screens or guardrail systems, a canopy, or a barricaded area.29 CFR 1910.28(c) | When an employee is exposed to falling objects, the employer must have each employee wear a hard hat and put one of the listed measures in place: toeboards, screens or guardrails, a canopy, or a barricade.29 CFR 1926.501(c) |
What is OSHA's rule and what is not
| Level | What it says |
|---|---|
| OSHA requirement | The helmet has to meet one of the three ANSI Z89.1 editions named in the rule, or the employer has to be able to show it is at least as effective. A helmet marked to a newer edition goes through that second route.29 CFR 1910.135(b)(2) and 29 CFR 1926.100(b)(3) |
| Recommended practice | How long a helmet or its suspension lasts comes from the manufacturer's instructions. Neither paragraph sets a replacement interval, so a replacement schedule is the employer's own policy, recommended and not required by OSHA.29 CFR 1910.135(b)(1) and 29 CFR 1926.100(b)(1) |
| Recommended practice | A site rule such as hard hats at all times, for everyone, is a contractor or owner policy. It can be stricter than OSHA, and a worker can be disciplined under it, but it is not an OSHA requirement. |
Does your state do it differently?
Some states run their own State Plan and write their own text, so the federal paragraphs above describe federal OSHA states. Look up your state on the State Plans page and read its rule before you rely on the federal wording.
What OSHA cited most under these standards in FY2025
| Paragraph | What it covers | FY2025 citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1910.135(a)(1) | Helmet where falling objects are a hazard | 93 |
| 1926.100(a) | Helmet where there is a danger of head injury | 1,414 |
1910.135: 93 citations in FY2025 at 93 inspections, 5 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). 1926.100: 1,414 citations in FY2025 at 1,414 inspections, 1,369 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). Citation items issued Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025, counted by HazComFast on U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data (extracted Oct 13, 2026). Inspected establishments, not the whole industry.
Mistakes that turn up in inspections
- Treating the ANSI label as optional. The paragraphs name the editions the helmet has to meet, so a helmet with no marking to any of them leaves the employer to show it is at least as effective.29 CFR 1910.135(b)(1) and 29 CFR 1926.100(b)(1)
- Giving a general-purpose helmet to a worker near energized parts. The electrician needs the helmet designed to reduce electrical shock hazard, and in construction the high-voltage case needs section 9.7 of the ANSI standard.29 CFR 1910.135(a)(2) and 29 CFR 1926.100(b)(2)
- Citing the general industry paragraphs on a jobsite. A construction employer is held to 1926.100, whose high-voltage clause points to section 9.7 of the ANSI standard, and to 1926.501(c) for falling objects.29 CFR 1926.100(b)(2) and 29 CFR 1926.501(c)
Free tool
Hard hats are one of the items a supervisor checks on the weekly walk. Print it in English or Spanish.