Recognizing the benefits of the modern safety helmet over the traditional hard hat, STO Building Group is shifting to a 100% helmet requirement for its subcontractors.
The hard hat is one of the most iconic symbols of the construction industry, from photos of workers building skyscrapers to children’s playsets and toys. And while the hard hat has played a key role in protecting workers for decades, its design has remained largely unchanged since the 1960s. In the face of continued head injuries, recent years have seen increased calls for innovation and policy change.
Modern safety helmets have emerged as a leading alternative to traditional hard hats. Recognizing their benefits, STO Building Group has announced a decision to require all subcontractors and their employees to shift to a 100% safety helmet policy by the end of 2025.
In 2023, the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the agency would replace traditional hard hats with modern safety helmets for all its workers. They acknowledged the lack of side and rear impact protection and chin straps to keep protection in place during falls. Additionally, OSHA recommended the use of safety helmets in key occupational settings, including on construction sites and when working from heights.
In 2024, STOBG businesses began implementing a helmet requirement for employees and are now shifting policies to include subcontractors. The changes recognize safety helmets for their more comprehensive protection of the front, top, sides, and rear of the head, as well as additional features such as chin straps.
“Modern safety helmets offer invaluable protection in settings where falling objects or other hazards are present,” explains Keith Haselman, senior vice president of corporate safety for STOBG. “Additionally, they include crucial features like chin straps. In the past two years, hard hats without chin straps have fallen off 100% of the time during falls. We saw an opportunity to set a new standard for worker protection and strengthen our overall approach to PPE.”
Several STOBG family businesses have already instituted 100% helmet policies for trade partners. Going forward, the company-wide policy will be written into new contracts with subcontractors, allowing the organization to make a smooth transition toward universal helmet use. Some STOBG businesses have also begun circulating memos and hosting informational sessions to help convey the value of helmets and clarify new policies.
The shift toward modern safety helmets represents just one way in which STOBG is working to improve PPE and set an example for peers and trade partners across the industry.