In a sign that that U.S. PPE manufacturers are looking to refresh the classic hardhat design, Ergodyne is offering a helmet equipped with the Multidirectional Impact Protection System, an innovation designed to better isolate the brain from the shocks associated with falls and collisions. It is the second U.S. manufacturer to announce a MIPS-equipped construction helmet, after Protective Industrial Products announced a MIPS model of its Dynamic Rocky safety helmet earlier this summer. Ergodyne's helmet is the first to market in the U.S.

新的Ergodyne头盔以Skullerz品牌销售，使用了一个孤立的内部框架，可以独立于头盔移动。这可以减少可能导致大脑剪切的旋转能，使大脑由于撞击而突然在头骨内部嘎嘎作响。这种冲击是许多创伤性脑损伤的原因，尤其是与倾斜或侧面影响相关的脑损伤。

MIPS is the product of a Swedish-based firm of the same name, which has marketed its technology primarily for biking and mountaineering helmets. Several years ago the company began working with Swedish-based Guardio Safety AB on an industrial and construction-focused version of its helmet. Aftersuccessful trialswith local contractor Södertörn, Guardio brought the helmet to the European market. Robert Österdahl, the health and safety director at Södertörn, was selected as a 2019ENR Newsmaker.

With MIPS-equipped helmets already being used in Germany, the U.K. and the Nordic countries, versions from companies including Ergodyne and PIP represent a major inroad for the safety technology in the U.S., says Max Strandwitz, CEO of MIPS. “With Ergodyne, we appreciate their investment in this technology without there being an existing U.S. standard [requiring MIPS or similar technology],” he says.

Most hardhats found in the U.S. are designed to prevent head injury due to falling objects, a focus that Strandwitz says doesn’t line up with the broader safety data. “When we looked into the European market, at the safety statistics, we saw that [falling objects] were only 16% of accidents. Fall accidents are closer to 60%.”

Given the available statistics, Strandwitz admits MIPS had a blindspot regarding construction and regrets not getting MIPS into the industrial sectors sooner. “Not much has happened in the last 20 years for [helmet PPE] standards—we’re still just testing against falling objects. We need to be improving standards [to account for] real-life accidents.”

The Ergodyne MIPS helmet meets ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014, and it also meets EN12492, the European standard for helmet side impact compliance.

“I came into this industry from the bicycle industry, so I’ve been aware of MIPS for a long time. It’s well established there, you’d be hard-pressed to find a helmet without rotational-energy management or MIPS in it,” explains Tim Gallant, product director for Ergodyne’s protection division. “So when we were able to make the connection with MIPS, we got going right away.”

Aside from the rotation-isolating inner lining, the helmet also features a chin strap, a standard feature of many European construction helmets but a less common sight on American jobsites, even today. Rather than replace existing Ergodyne helmets, Gallant says the company is pursuing a two-tiered strategy for its safety helmet line for now. “What we’re expecting to see in the market is a differentiation between a standard helmet and something with MIPS. There will always be some users saying ‘I just need to meet the current [safety] standard, nothing extra.’ This creates that tiered approach.”

But when it comes to PPE in general, Strandwitz thinks it’s past time for the U.S. to start shifting over to safety helmets with chin straps, MIPS or no. “That chin strap is very important. If you have a fall accident and you don’t have a chin strap on, the helmet will not protect you,” he says.

Ergodyne模型，Class C Skullerz 8975-MIPSand theE级Skullerz 8974-MIPS，零售价分别为96.85美元和88.45美元。这比埃尔戈迪提供的不配备MIPS的安全头盔的价格溢价约为15美元，而Gallant表示，MIPS缺乏明显的贴纸冲击将是一项奖励。“这是一个非常简单的演算：我的头价值15美元吗？大概。”

“What we quickly realized is that we need to educate the industry, but also go directly to the construction companies, talk about advantage of having a MIPS-equipped helmet,” says Strandwitz. “What we have seen in Europe, after having a discussion no one is questioning the price. $15 is not a huge ask.”