EN 397, ” Industrial Safety Helmets,” was released in a new revision recently and the official English language edition, BS EN 397:2012, is now available from Document Center Inc. This European Standard specifies physical and performance requirements, methods of test, and marking requirements for industrial safety helmets.
The mandatory requirements of BS EN 397 apply to helmets for general use in industry in the European Union as mandated by 89/686/EEC for personal protective equipment. Additional optional performance requirements are included to apply only where specifically claimed by the helmet manufacturer.
Industrial safety helmets (also known as headgear) are intended primarily to provide protection to the wearer against falling objects to avoid brain injury and skull fracture.
EN 397:2012 is written by Technical Committee CEN/TC 158 on “Head protection.” Countries in Europe are expected adopt it as a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, by July 2012, as well as withdrawing conflicting national standards at the same time.