Housebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel has become one of the first British firms to adopt a new generation of hard hat, which features an innovative impact absorption system.

The German-made ENHA Ranger headwear, being used by Mactaggart & Mickel’s workers on its St Jude’s Meadow development in Oxfordshire, is a double-walled safety helmet featuring the Crashbox system, which reduces the force of an impact to the wearer’s head, neck and shoulders.

The Crashbox system has been inspired by the crumple zones used in the automotive industry and allows for multiple colour combinations to reflect various job roles on a site, or to match a corporate colour scheme.

The helmets also have a protective layer that blocks UV rays, extending their lifespan by as much as 50%.

Marion Forbes, Director at Mactaggart & Mickel said: “As a fourth-generation family-owned business, the safety and wellbeing of our people has always been our number one priority, which is why we’re committed to investing in the highest specification safety systems and techniques across all our sites.

"We’ve had great feedback from our staff about the new helmets, including their comfort and design – but the most important thing is the extra safety they bring to our sites.”

Elsewhere in Oxfordshire, Mactaggart & Mickel will use the new hard hats at its 25-home Childrey Park development in East Challow.

Source: Construction Manager