© February 9th, 2020, American Directional Driller®

In the oil patch, some see an old mud-covered hard hat as street credibility. Bottom line is that many oilfield workers never wash the drilling mud off their hardhat and they keep this PPE for years if not decades.  Did you know that hard hats have a useful life and require periodic replacement? 

A few years ago American Directional Driller® posted a video on YouTube to raise awareness that chemical additives in drilling mud, excessive sunlight, and extreme temperatures can cause premature hard hat plastic degradation. So far the message has been received over 13,000 times. The motivation behind this video was a rig accident where a falling top-drive bolt shattered a hard hat and worse.

Be careful not to overlook this message by listening to someone who has never worked on a drilling rig. It is best to replace your hard had and the chassis more frequently than the manufacturer suggests. Mining and construction are completely different work environments. The additives in drilling mud and sunlight are the key differences. Combine these factors with extreme cold temperatures in places like the Bakken in North Dakota and you may find yourself with a reduced life.