Construction Firms Launched Type II Safety Helmet Pilot

General contractors are testing Type II helmets to assess if enhanced protection reduces job-site head injuries.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Construction

Isometric editorial illustration of two industrial safety helmets resting on a concrete surface, representing construction safety standards. — The Job-Site Safety Institute and Comer Construction have begun a pilot program testing Type II helmets to better mitigate job-site head injuries. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe implementing newer, advanced safety gear is essential for improving job-site safety?

The Job-Site Safety Institute and Comer Construction have initiated a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of Type II safety helmets on active jobsites. The program seeks to measure implementation challenges and safety benefits for construction crews.

Why it matters

The industry faces roughly 200 annual worker deaths from traumatic brain injuries, prompting a search for equipment that reduces impact force to the sides and top of the head. This pilot provides real-world data on whether upgrading from standard gear is a viable strategy for risk mitigation.

JSI has invested $1.13 million in research grants since 2014, supporting studies aimed at addressing an industry baseline of 1,000 fatal and 150,000 nonfatal workplace injuries annually. The current pilot program aims to impact the 200 annual deaths specifically attributed to TBIs.

The players

Job-Site Safety Institute

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds research and safety education for the construction industry.

Comer Construction

A construction company acting as the primary testing partner for the new helmet pilot program.

North Carolina State University

A public research university partnering with the industry to provide scientific validation of safety equipment benefits.

The details

The pilot program shifts the operational focus from standard hard hats to Type II helmets, which are specifically engineered to dissipate impact energy from both side-impacts and overhead strikes. Researchers from NCSU are analyzing how these helmets perform in the field while evaluating the logistical and business-side implications for contractors. The project assesses whether the transition offers sufficient protection gains to justify the equipment upgrade across active construction environments.

2014: Job-Site Safety Institute was founded.
September 1, 2026: Research grant with NCSU was funded.
Through 2027: The pilot program continues.

Market Landscape

This pilot program continues the trend of data-driven safety assessments established by the Job-Site Safety Institute's grant-funded research initiatives. It marks a shift toward field-testing equipment to address specific industry injury metrics.

Operators should monitor the results of this 2027-concluding study to determine if Type II helmets become a standard requirement for site insurance or compliance. Assessing the cost difference between standard and Type II gear now can help firms prepare for potential procurement shifts.

The takeaway

The industry is moving toward a more nuanced understanding of head protection by focusing on side-impact force reduction. Business owners should review current PPE procurement policies to see if they are prepared for a potential pivot toward Type II safety helmet adoption.