British PPE specialist Centurion Safety Products is to incorporate a Swedish helmet safety technology that helps reduce the risk of concussion or serious brain injury into its Nexus construction helmet.
It will be the first time a UK manufacturer has offered Mips, whose technology is already widely used in the cycling helmet market, in a hard hat when the Centurion Nexus is launched in March. The hard hat will also be the first globally to incorporate the new Mips ‘cradle’ rotational impact protection system into their helmets.
In contrast with helmets that only use a foam liner to reduce impact shock, the Centurion Nexus already features advanced protection in the form of a liner and six-point cradle system, which acts as a secondary layer, reducing impact shock further and helping to reduce risk for acquired brain injury.
The addition of Mips helmet technology is expected to enhance the protection by decreasing rotational motion otherwise transferred to the head from certain oblique impacts.
Injury statistics show that the head is likely to hit the ground at an angle after a slip, trip or fall. During an impact to the head from a falling object or debris, off centre, rotational motion may be introduced to the head, Mips added.
Mips’ ‘low friction layer’ allows the head to move inside the helmet (10mm – 15mm relative motion in all directions) on certain angled impacts, which can redirect the harmful rotational motion otherwise transferred to the head.
Mips pointed to studies showing that the human brain is six-to-seven times more sensitive to rotational motion than linear motion. Impacts that generate rotational motion can cause strain to the brain tissue, leading to concussion or even more serious brain injuries.
Nick Hurt, CEO of Centurion Safety Products, said: “As leaders in above-the-neck PPE, our customers trust us to be at the forefront of head protection innovation, so we are constantly looking at how we can ensure our products not only meet relevant safety standards but exceed them.
“We are therefore excited to become the first company to incorporate the Mips cradle rotational impact protection system into our helmets. The Mips system will be featured in our market-leading Centurion Nexus helmet, which is already a stand-out product thanks to its advanced safety standards.”
Max Strandwitz, Mips CEO, said: “We are very proud to announce this partnership. Centurion is a trusted, well-established British PPE manufacturer of over 140 years, who share our values and lead in occupational head protection. We know that construction workers are particularly at risk for accidents, especially head injuries.
“For people who take a high risk because of their occupation, the best possible helmet at work should also be a priority. Protection against rotational motion should be as important for safety helmets as airbags and seatbelts are in cars,"
To register to join Centurion and Mips for the unveiling of the Centurion Nexus with Mips helmet technology on Wednesday 24 March 2021, click here.
CM’s round table on head injuries and safety helmets will be published next month, in association with Mips.
