November 10th, 2025

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A brief history of the hard hat: did you know?

Hard hats. Nowadays they’re compulsory head gear for all industrial, mining and construction workers. Would Bob the Builder ever be seen without his trademark shiny yellow hat?

Wasn’t always the case, though. Way back in the early 1800’s, shipbuilding workers decided to take matters into their own hands.

Fed-up with dodging falling hammers and rusty rivets, they smeared their hats with thick, black tar and left them out to bake under the hot, midday sun.

The result? A good, sturdy, hardened hat that was strong enough to protect their heads from falling debris.

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