Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between this helmet lanyard and a chin strap?
A: A chin strap holds the hard hat on the head by passing under the chin, designed to keep it in place during movement. A helmet lanyard tethers the hard hat to the wearer's clothing or harness, so if it comes off, it stays within reach rather than falling. The two serve different purposes, and on many sites they are used together. A lanyard is the correct solution where a dropped helmet presents a risk to those working below , which is the primary concern on sites with working at height activity.
Q: What does the safety breakaway feature actually do and why does it matter?
A: The safety breakaway is built into the Tough Teeth clip and allows it to release from the garment under a set sudden load. If the lanyard is caught on a rotating guard, moving part, or overhead obstacle, the clip detaches from the wearer's clothing rather than transferring that force to the head and neck. Without a breakaway, a snagged lanyard can cause a secondary injury far more serious than a dropped helmet. This makes the breakaway feature particularly important on sites with live plant, excavation machinery, and overhead gantries where snagging is a realistic risk.
Q: What is this lanyard not suitable for?
A: This helmet lanyard is a retention tether with no working load rating and must not be used to carry tools, equipment, or weighted accessories. It is not fall arrest equipment and does not replace a harness or lanyard rated under EN354 or EN355. It is not suitable as a substitute for a chin strap where the helmet manufacturer specifies one. The neoprene construction may degrade on contact with solvents and certain chemicals, confirm suitability for chemical environments with your site safety officer before specifying for that application.
Q: Can the Tough Teeth clip be attached and removed with gloves on?
A: Yes. The clip is designed specifically for single-hand operation while wearing gloves. It opens with one finger and grips any woven fabric securely on closing, including hi-vis vest panels, jacket chest areas, and harness webbing. On site, removing gloves to attach a safety accessory is not realistic, the clip is built around that constraint.
Q: Will this work with any hard hat, including ones fitted with visors or ear defenders?
A: Yes. The loop end routes through any standard helmet accessory slot and cinches on itself, fitting every hard hat design regardless of brim type or shell profile. If integrated hearing protection occupies the accessory slot, the loop attaches to the helmet's internal harness instead, he cinch method works identically on harness webbing. Helmets fitted with visors or face shields present no compatibility issue at the accessory slot.
Q: How do I inspect this lanyard and when should I replace it?
A: Check the loop end, neoprene webbing, and Tough Teeth clip before every use. Look for fraying at the loop, cracking or stiffening of the neoprene, and any deformation in the clip body or teeth. If any of those are present, remove from service immediately. After any drop event, quarantine the lanyard for a full inspection before returning it to use, internal damage may not be visible. Detailed inspection checklists are accessible by scanning the NLG ID tag on the lanyard.
Q: What is the NLG ID tag and how does it help with site inspection records?
A: The NLG ID tag is a serialised identifier on each lanyard. Scanning it with a smartphone gives direct access to the product's certificates, installation instructions, and a digital inspection log. For sites requiring documented PPE inspection records under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 or CDM 2015 site requirements, the NLG ID system provides a straightforward way to record and retrieve inspection history without paper-based logs or separate filing.
