What Do Different Hard Hat Colours Signify? | JCB Workwear

One of the most important and fundamental pieces of trade workwear on any construction site is the hard hat, which provides several different functions despite protecting your head from impact injuries.

Often rumoured to have been invented by author Franz Kafka, a hard hat not only shields the head but also is designed in such a way as to divert the force of an impact away from the skill, in part by having a suspension system that keeps at least an inch of space away from the skull itself.

They come in many different colours, but did you know that each of these colours signifies a different role and rank on the site?

Whilst there is no standard and colours can vary, here are the typical meanings behind different hard hats.

Yellow Hard Hats

Whilst often used as a catch-all for general labourers in the same way the JCB yellow is used for general construction equipment, but on sites with a wide range of different workers, it is often specifically used for earth moving, heavy machinery operation or other manual labour work.

Orange Hard Hats

For people working on high-traffic sites such as road repairs and railway sites, orange hard hats are often worn instead of yellow, because they are more visible at high speed and to drivers. They can also sometimes be used by operators of lifting machines.

Blue Hard Hats

Whilst most commonly associated with electricians, other specialist technicians on a construction site often wear blue helmets to signify what their role is and why they might be in dangerous or otherwise restricted areas.

Green Hard Hats

Depending on the site, this can either mean a safety inspector or a colour used for staff on their probationary period.

White Hard Hats

Finally, the white hard hat is typically used to signify foremen, managers, surveyors or other important people on the site.