UKC

Hi,

More of a rope access query, but any help would be appreciated!

I need some advice on a suitable helmet to be used climbing a ships mast at sea. The boat I sail on already has builders style helmets for the deck crew but currently the person going up the mast has no protection despite being vulnerable to bashing their head if the boat is at sea as the mast can move quite violently and unpredictably.

I’m looking at something like this, my main concern is would the chin strap be rated to break in the event of getting caught on something which could cause a choking hazard. Also its needs to be a “one size fits all” if possible.

https://www.petzl.com/GB/en/Professional/Helmets/VERTEX-VENT

If there was an option that included face protection that would also be interesting as a few people have lost teeth while being swung around.

Thanks in advance!!

I've no experience of climbing masts but it sounds like you might want a helmet that offers protection for side impacts rather than for top impacts.

Traditional climbing helmets are designed to protect you from rocks landing on your head but more modern ones with polystyrene offer better side impact protection, e.g. https://www.petzl.com/GB/en/Professional/Helmets/ALVEO-BEST

I've no idea about the choking hazard issue!

The America's Cup crews wear helmets. Maybe if you enquire at a Chandlers they could get one for you?

climbing helmets may not stand up to constant saltwater environments, Are there no specialist helmets available?

YMMV, but I really don't like the Petzl Vertex.  They should never have stopped making the 'BEST'.

The 'chin strap rated to break' is one of the key differences (really the only one, unless you are welding or working on high voltage power lines) between a helmet certified to the mountaineering standard, EN14292, and one certified to the industrial standard EN 397. 
(EN 397 also includes optional clauses about molten metal spatter and electrical arcs that affects what holes the lid can have in the shell for ventilation if it is to comply with those.)

The former requires a strong chin strap to keep the helmet on despite multiple impacts (a series of pebbles bouncing off your bonce in a stone fall perhaps), the latter a weak one so it won't strangle you if a crane driver tries to lift you up by your hat.

The manufacturers often mix-and-match features, offer the same lid to either standard and sometimes only specify which is which in the small print.  They do tend to use red clasps on the deliberately-weak fastening chin straps as opposed to black ones on the strong ones though.

"One size fits most" is the best you can hope for, but if you're seriously concerned about the helmet getting snagged I think it would be very counterproductive to have anyone wearing a helmet that is too big for them, something that invariably results in the shell sticking out a long way behind their head potentially greatly increasing that risk.

You might find a Kask Plasma worth a look.  Eg: https://www.abaris.co.uk/prod/ground-work-helmets/Kask-Plasma-AQ-Helmet-VAT...    I don't think there's an option to protect you from a smack in the teeth, but being an arboricultural sort of a thing you can buy a visor to fit.

Having bashed my head numerous times when up in the attic I have often throught there was a niche in the market for a lightweight, ventilated, super-snug helmet for general use in DIY and sailing, even walking. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=sailing+helmet&tag=mh0...

Try this

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/photo/viking-helmet-royalty-free-image...

If you want something small, light and comfortable to protect you from banging your head on a joist in the attic, a bump cap might do for that.  Available from Screwfix, Arco, etc. from about a fiver up to twenty quid odd for a really fancy one.  Eg: https://www.screwfix.com/p/jsp-aerolite-bump-cap-black/6681r

Get a hurling helmet!!

Is that one that is good for sea sickness?

Thanks for taking the time to reply, this is really helpful! I'll refine my search based on these standards, the only thing i need to check now is which one the boat will want to comply with!

 That's awesome! Just a bit out of our price range!

You're very welcome, glad you found it useful.

I just looked again and noticed I made a mistake though, the EN standard for climbing helmets is EN12492, not 14292 as I wrote above.

I wore one of those for a few years when I worked on chemical plants. Quite surprising how much of the impact they absorb when you bang your head on a bit of pipework.

Motorcross helmet?

I grew up in a seaside town, I know loads of helmets in the marine industry. Could put you in touch if you like...

Maybe I should wear one for running.  Twice now I've run straight into a low hanging branch whilst wheezing up a hill with my head down.  It's a good job I'm not fast enough to really hurt myself. 

Those bump caps look just the job - I'm just slightly miffed that somebody has beaten me to inventing them!

The Hightec helmet meets the standard for both work at height and work in confined spaces, which means the chinstrap buckle can be set to release if needs be to prevent strangulation or choking.

https://www.heightec.com/product/duon-air-vented-helmet/

I'd never heard of those.  Are they any good?

Seems to be a solution in search of a problem, tbh.  On that one point regarding the strap it is not possible to comply with EN12492 and EN397 simultaneously, they are mutually contradictory.  And by having something that can quickly and easily be switched from one 'mode' to the other, in many places of work I could see that being a recipe for them all just ending up randomised.

None of the photos there show what is going on inside the shell - is it a 'traditional' shell and cradle type construction?  It's been discussed on here in the past a fair bit that, as compared to more modern climbing helmets, that design tends to mean that a lid is poor at dealing with side/front/rear impact.  (Not something that is, as yet, mentioned in either standard but nevertheless something that many climbing lid manufacturers have greatly improved in recent years.)  It seems to me that's the OP's main concern, so it's very unlikely to be a contender for the best lid for his situation.

Thanks for all the replies on this. There's been lots of helpful info and now that i have a better understanding i realise that the chin strap was a bit of a red herring.

It seems helmets for work at height tend to carry the en12492 standard for a stronger strap so the lid won't easily get knocked off in the event of multiple strikes. Helmets for ground where there may be an increased risk of catching or choking can have weaker straps that will break if required.

I'm looking at the Petzl Avleo Vent as it's for a foam liner and seems better at side impact than the Vertex I was originally looking at. Note the vent seems useful as if someone fell into the sea while wearing it the holes might reduce the bucket force effect of the helmet filling up.

I have spent way too much time underwater while wearing a kayaking helmet, and vent vs no vent makes no difference that I can tell. Helmet should be snug against head.

For the proper ‘eek’ you need to go in the water wearing a buoyancy aid/life jacket and hooded waterproof with the hood down, get out of the water, and then lean forward. Basically a bucket of sea water straight down the back of the (fairly dry up until then) neck.

Yes, they're really good. The buckle has two settings that can be altered to comply with what would appear to be the contradictory requirements of working at height and in confined spaces. The development was in response from some industrial sectors that wanted the flexibility. I believe they're selling well.