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Innovations often are not adopted quickly in the construction industry. Changes at times are not readily accepted. But because the work remains dangerous, decreasing the numbers of injuries and fatalities will always be a priority for contractors. That’s the impetus behind a new drive by Portland contractor Bremik Construction to bring better head protection to its own crews of carpenters and other tradespeople.

鈥淢ore than half the fatal head injuries (in construction) are from traumatic brain injury resulting from falls from buildings, ladders or scaffolds,鈥� Michelle Brunetto, Bremik’s safety director, told a crew of employees Monday at the Beacon Lake Oswego job site. 鈥淭he first thing that comes off is (a hard hat) and you hit your head.鈥�

After two serious falls resulting in injuries during the past year, Bremik has issued each of its employees a new OSHA-approved 3M SecureFit safety helmet. The company has made use of the helmet mandatory for employees.

鈥淚t’s the evolution of safety, and it’s the evolution of what we do in the industry,鈥� Brunetto told employees during a presentation timed to coincide with the start of national Construction Safety Week, which runs through Friday. 鈥淭his is the most dangerous industry there is, and if we don’t evolve with that it’s not a place you want to be. Bremik is going to be the first general contractor in Portland to do this company-wide change, so it’s coming my friends.鈥�

In construction, with some aspects that have barely changed for decades, this could be a big deal.

鈥淭he changeover to hard hats from baseball caps, or nothing, in the industry was a big change,鈥� said Ryan Wistrand, a carpenter and foreman for Bremik. 鈥淓ven today it’s sometimes a fight to get people to do industry-standard stuff, but I think it’s how you approach it.鈥�

The new SecureFit helmets look nothing like typical hard hats. Instead of a brimmed carbon fiber or plastic shell with loose-fitting webbing, the new helmets have neither a visor nor brim and appear tailor-made for rock climbing. They feature far more foam padding than current hard hats, as well as a padded chin strap to prevent it from falling off.

Wistrand predicted that any opposition would likely die out in a few months.

鈥淚t’s definitely iconic, the hard hat,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o changing over to these I think there’s going to be a little bit of heartache. But it’s just the way everything is going; it’s the next innovation, and a year from now, six months from now, people aren’t even going to pay attention to it anymore. It’s just going to be the norm.鈥�

Wistrand said the new helmet is slightly heavier than his current carbon fiber hard hat, but also more cushioning and greater suspension.

鈥淚t definitely hugs your head, maybe conforms to your head a little better than the hard hats do,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s a little more fitted as opposed to that universal fit you get from a hard hat. And since the weight doesn’t move all over the place it doesn’t feel uncomfortable and you can wear it for quite a long time.鈥�

Brunetto said she is offering company employees a $500 bonus for ideas leading to additional safety innovations.

鈥淪afety is never a completed item,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s not something you put on the shelf and say, 鈥楬ey, we’re done.’ In my almost 30 years in the construction industry this is the most innovative idea I’ve seen in the (personal protective equipment) realm, and I’m excited about the protection.鈥�