The symbol isn’t a sticker, but rather a raised stamp created from the helmet’s molded plastic material. This date of manufacture symbol is common in many molded plastic products.
For example, if the arrow is pointing at 5, the helmet was produced in May; if it’s pointing at 10, the helmet was made in October.
For example, 18 represents 2018, meaning the helmet was manufactured in that year. So, if the arrow is pointing at 10 and there’s an 18 in the center, the helmet was produced in October 2018.
The top left quadrant represents January to March; the top right, April to June; the bottom right, July to September; and the bottom left, October to December. Check each quadrant for a single raised dot in its center. If you see a dot in only the upper left quadrant, the helmet was made between January and March. If you see dots in both upper quadrants, the helmet was made between April and June, and so on.
You might be asking what constitutes an “impact. ” Put it this way—if you would have sustained a mild (or worse) head injury without the helmet, replace it.
Check the adjustable headband and other interior components as well. These parts can sometimes be swapped out without replacing the entire helmet, but it’s important to use manufacturer-approved replacement parts that match the old ones exactly.
In some cases, government regulations or company policies may set a shorter max service life number for your safety helmet. Always use the smallest number (the least number of years) from among the manufacturer, government, and/or business requirements.
Some helmet manufacturers provide a sticker that you can affix to the inside of the helmet after writing your name and the date of issue on it. Use a durable permanent marker to write this info and refresh it as needed when the writing starts to fade.
There’s no set formula, but it’s a safe bet to reduce the max service life by 1/3 to 1/2 (e. g. , from 4 years to 2) if the helmet is regularly used in harsh weather conditions. Inspect your helmet daily no matter what, but take even greater care if you use or store it in sunny, rainy, windy, or snowy weather. Replace it immediately if you see any chips, cracks, or bubbling/blistering of the material.
Wipe away dirt and debris as often as once per day, using a gentle cleanser such as dish soap and water or a multi-purpose spray cleaner. Do not use harsh cleaning solvents or rough scrubbers (such as steel wool) on the helmet. Do not paint your helmet, since the solvents in the paint may weaken the helmet material. Using permanent markers is probably okay, but check with the manufacturer, your employer, and your government’s safety agency first. Apply stickers to your helmet only if permitted by the manufacturer, your employer, and your government safety agency. Pressure-adhesive stickers are very unlikely to affect the helmet material, but they can conceal damage to the helmet. Never put stickers near the edges of the helmet, since signs of wear and tear often appear there first.
Most importantly: wear your helmet at least when and where required, and—even better—whenever your head is in danger of injury!
