The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF), in partnership with ELECTRI International, The Association of Union Constructors, and American Society of Concrete Contractors, has released the results of a major construction helmet research initiative conducted with the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings lab.
The findings are significant. Independent laboratory testing indicates that 5-Star rated Type II construction helmets can reduce the risk of certain skull fractures by up to 75 percent compared to traditional Type I hard hats.
To ensure the industry understands the data — and the science behind it — JRGF has produced a six-part short video series that walks contractors step-by-step through the research, testing protocols, findings, and practical implications for construction safety programs.
The Six-Part Video Series
The series breaks the research into six focused discussions:
- Explaining the Issue: A clear look at how head injuries occur on construction sites and why lateral impacts deserve more attention.
- Partnering with Virginia Tech Helmet Labs: Why the industry engaged an independent, nationally recognized testing lab to conduct objective evaluations.
- Inside the Testing Process: A detailed explanation of impact testing methods, instrumented headforms, and how linear and rotational forces are measured.
- The Star Rating System: How helmets are evaluated beyond minimum standards and how performance differences are quantified.
- Explaining the Results: What the data shows about Type I versus Type II performance and how the 75 percent reduction figure was calculated.
- Why This Matters to Construction: Practical guidance for contractors evaluating head protection policies in real-world jobsite conditions.
What the Research Found
Traditional Type I hard hats are designed primarily for top impacts — objects falling directly onto the crown of the head. That hazard model has shaped decades of safety standards.
But many serious construction head injuries are caused by slips, trips, and falls where the worker strikes steel, concrete, or equipment at an angle. Those are lateral impacts.
Type II helmets are tested for both top and side impacts. More importantly, the Virginia Tech testing measured not only linear force, but rotational acceleration — the twisting motion of the brain inside the skull that contributes significantly to skull fractures and traumatic brain injury.
The controlled laboratory data showed that higher-performing Type II helmets dramatically reduced predicted skull fracture risk under repeatable impact conditions.
Why Contractors Should Pay Attention
Mechanical and plumbing contractors operate in congested, high-risk environments — elevated work, structural steel, tight mechanical rooms, and dynamic jobsite movement. When a fall happens, it is rarely perfectly vertical.
The research does not mandate a specific helmet model or brand. It provides performance data. Contractors can review the ratings, compare options, and determine whether their current policies reflect how injuries actually occur in the field.
Safety equipment evolves when evidence supports it. This study provides measurable evidence.
Reducing skull fracture risk is not theoretical. It is quantifiable. And now the industry has the data to evaluate it.
Read more about this JRGF-funded research in this news article.
