Professional safety helmets are intended to provide protection in high-risk workplaces. If they fail to meet EU safety requirements, workers risk serious head injuries. An EU-funded campaign tested 65 professional helmets: around one in three failed, which highlights the importance of using the appropriate safety equipment.
Tests were done for shock absorption, resistance to penetration, flame resistance, chinstrap anchorage and the durability of markings and labels. The first two tests were carried out after exposing the helmets to temperature extremes, water submersion and ageing under UV light.
Overall, 46 samples (71%) met the requirements, while 19 samples (29%) did not. Most failures were for shock absorption.
Market surveillance authorities (MSAs) sampled the 65 helmets in eight countries: Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. They were bought online and in physical retail stores.
Actions taken
MSAs classified eight of the failures as serious risk and four as high risk. They withdrew six products from the market, recalled two from consumers and imposed a sales ban on one product. Seven warnings were issued to economic operators. Other corrective measures are ongoing.
Eight products were listed on Safety Gate, the EU rapid alert system used to alert consumers about dangerous non-food products. Thirty-nine were registered in the ICSMS, the EU information and communication system for market surveillance. MSAs use it to exchange information about product compliance and enforcement actions. What can you do?
If you’re buying a helmet for personal use, or are an employer buying helmets for your workers, the advice is clear
- ensure that the model is designed for the specific risks of the workplace
- only buy and use CE-marked professional helmets
- check that the helmet is accompanied by instructions in your national language(s) and that the EU Declaration of Conformity either accompanies the product, or is accessible at the internet address provided in the instructions
- helmets that have sustained an impact should be discarded, even if no damage is visible
If you’re an economic operator, ensure that industrial safety helmets you place on the EU market comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and relevant harmonised standards on personal protective equipment. This includes requirements for technical documentation, CE marking, instructions and labels.
If you are a manufacturer, ensure that products placed on the market continue to match the standards of the certified type. Economic operators must ensure that supply-chain and conformity documentation is complete and that marketing claims accurately reflect the protection provided. Unsafe or non-compliant PPE can be rejected at customs, and lead to withdrawals, recalls and liability claims.
EU-wide testing
The testing was done under the 2025 edition of the Joint Actions on Compliance of Products (JACOP) campaign in the EU and in EFTA countries. JACOP is a joint European market surveillance action that supports MSAs in checking whether products placed on their markets comply with EU regulations. The European Commission finances and coordinates this cooperation, helping MSAs share methods, compare findings and strengthen product safety enforcement across the single market.
“Market surveillance campaigns help to protect businesses from unfair competition and ensure that products sold on the single market keep those who use them safe,” said DG GROW Policy Officer, Vanessa Capurso.
