Wearing A Hard Hat Backwards

Bullard standards ANSI Z89 Type 1 hard hats have been tested and found to be compliant to the requirements of the standard when worn with the shell turned backwards.

To perform properly in this manner, the suspension must be reversed in the helmet, so that the headband is oriented normally to the wearer’s head (i.e., with the brow pad against the forehead and the extended nape strap at the base of the skull). In this manner, only the shell of the helmet is backwards on the head. This applies to Z89.1-2003 Type 1 helmets only (Bullard models C30, 3000, C33, 303, 302RT, S71, S62, S61, & S51).

ANSI Z89.1-2003 Type 2 helmets (Advent and Vector), because of the lower rear edge of the shell and the asymmetrical pattern of protection offered by their more complex design, should not be worn backwards.