What accessories fit a hard hat or safety helmet, and does OSHA require a chin strap? Slots, 30 mm rails and 7-slot brackets, face shields, earmuffs, headlamps, chin straps, liners, sun brims, pads and stickers by helmet

No rule does. OSHA’s 2024 bulletin says a chin strap should be considered for all head protection and suggests one for construction and work at height; an employer’s hazard assessment can make it mandatory.

There are none in 1910.135 or 1926.100; the advisory bulletin suggests straps, and Z89.1 tests the retention of a strap where one is fitted.

Snug: one finger fits between chin and strap, and the helmet cannot be rolled off when pushed from behind.

Unclip the anchors from the shell rim (four on the SHK-1) or unkey them from the slots on other helmets; replace with the strap made for that helmet and size rather than repairing a worn one.

Every Type II and climbing-style helmet ships with one; the Studson SHK-1 strap is 4-point with a Fidlock magnetic buckle, and plastic-buckle and Kevlar FR versions are sold as replacements.

They close themselves when the halves meet and open with a two-finger sideways slide, gloved or not, which is why Studson fits them; a magnet that stops holding is a replacement strap.

Keeps a helmet on without adding a strap that melts or drips in a flash fire: Studson states its Kevlar strap is tested to ASTM D6413 (modified) with no afterglow and no melting.

Push the 30 mm blade on each arm into the helmet’s side slot until it clicks, then swing the cups down; park them up on the shell when not in use.

Lamp and strap clips press onto the brim edge or into the helmet’s clip points from outside; nothing is screwed through the shell.

Accessory rails or side rails; the slots within them are the universal 30 mm slots that take earmuff blades and shield brackets.

Only with accessories the manufacturer lists; drilling, cutting, gluing or painting the shell is ruled out by Z89.1’s user appendix and the manufacturers’ instructions.

Return headlight and lamp light so the wearer is seen in low light; the kit cut for the model (Studson, JSP, PIP, Dynamic) is the one tested on the shell.

Custom sticker printing is priced by the printer and the quantity; a manufacturer’s pre-cut reflective kit for one helmet is priced on its row above. The stickers guide covers what the manufacturers allow.

Glasses and the ED-3B earmuff fit both shells; the ED-2B, cap-style shield and half shield fit the standard brim; the Paulson shields, nylon bracket, mesh shield, sun shield and FR sun brim fit the full brim; chin straps, lamps, liner, pads, neck shade, sun brim and stickers fit both, with the dual-cert helmet taking its own pad set.

With a slotted welding helmet adapter made for the hard hat’s slots, from the welding helmet or hard hat manufacturer; the hard hat keeps its own rating only with an adapter its manufacturer lists.

MSA says no: competitor accessories have not been tested with MSA helmets, and only MSA accessories such as the V-Gard Face Protection System and MSA cap-mounted hearing protectors are tested for continued compliance as an assembly.

MSA lists the V-Gard H1 visor and frame, V-Gard H1 safety glasses and the H1 chin strap and accessory system; the V-Gard slotted-cap frames and visors above are for the V-Gard Cap and Hat.