EN 397
Across industries, eye hazards are constant:
- Maritime & Offshore – protection against salt spray, UV, and arc flashes.
- Petrochemical – shielding from chemical splashes and fine particles.
- Construction – guarding against dust, flying debris, sparks, and molten metal.
EN 166 ensures that eyewear is tested, classified, and marked to give workers the right level of protection for their tasks.
Scope of EN 397
EN 397 applies to industrial safety helmets used to reduce head injury caused by:
- Impact from falling objects
- Mechanical shock
- Penetration by sharp objects
- Environmental conditions such as extreme heat or cold
It does not cover helmets designed for firefighting, climbing, or electrical work — these fall under separate standards.
Mandatory Requirements
Helmets certified to EN 397 must pass a series of mandatory tests:
- Shock absorption – protection against impact from a falling object
- Resistance to penetration – helmet shell must resist penetration by sharp objects
- Chinstrap anchorage – strap must release under force to prevent strangulation
- Flame resistance – helmet must self-extinguish within 5 seconds after flame exposure
- Marking – helmets must display manufacturer name, helmet type, year/quarter of manufacture, size range, and EN 397 marking
Optional Requirements
EN 397 also defines optional tests for helmets intended for specific environments:
- Very low temperature – tested at -20 °C or -30 °C
- Very high temperature – tested at +150 °C
- Electrical resistance – up to 440 V a.c.
- Molten metal splash – tested against droplets of molten metal
- Lateral deformation – resistance against compression from the sides
Helmets can carry additional markings to indicate which optional tests they passed.
Why EN 397 Matters
Head injuries are among the most serious workplace accidents. EN 397-certified helmets are vital across industries:
- Maritime & Offshore – protection against falling tools and equipment on vessels and rigs
- Petrochemical – resistance against heat, impact, and molten metal splash risks
- Construction – essential on building sites where falling debris is common
By standardizing requirements, EN 397 ensures that safety helmets perform reliably across Europe’s most demanding work environments.