Stock helmets: inadequate sun protection

1) Sun radiation is a health hazard.

• "Exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause not only sunburn but also lasting damage to skin and eyes. This may result in premature skin ageing, skin cancer and eye disorders... The effects of ultraviolet radiation are cumulative, so damage builds up even without burning." (Australian Department of Health and Ageing, Ultraviolet radiation and the ultraviolet index fact sheet)

2) To protect against the ultraviolet radiation, it is suggested to shadow the skin, using protective clothing.

• "How can you protect yourself from UV radiation? ... Wear a broad-brimmed hat which shades the face, ears and back of the neck." (The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Clothing and Solar UV Protection fact sheet, section 3)

3) The standards require to protect workers against the sunlight using wide-brimmed (>7cm) hats. (No, sunscreen alone is not sufficient.)

• "Broad brimmed (>7cm) hats provide the best protection for the face, neck and ears. Where hard hats are required brim or neck flaps should be worn." (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Radiation protection standard for occupational exposure to ultraviolet radiation, Annex 3. Limiting excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (uvr) in the workplace. Page 24.)

4) Hats are not allowed underneath helmets, and it's required to follow manufacturer's instructions

• "An approved bicycle helmet ... must be worn in accordance with manufacturer's specifications. Do not wear any type of hat ... underneath the helmet. Fit a visor to the helmet instead." (SA Police traffic information page. Tip 9. Section 1.)

5) The AS/NZ 2063 standard requires that nothing is attached outside of the helmet, allows to make no modification, and lacks any developed documentation about sun protection. It only allows using visors and eye protectors. It requires to test helmets accompanied by all the accessories.

• "No attachments should be made to the helmet except those recommended by the helmet manufacturer" (P. 11, sect. 9)
• "Make no modifications" (P. 10. sect. 8.1.iii)
• "In the absence of a specific standard for such items, it is recommended that visor and eye protectors recommended for use when cycling should conform to the requirements in AS 1609." (P. 8, sect. 6.2)
• "The helmets shall be supplied to the test facility in the condition in which they are offered for sale and shall be accompanied by all attachments and accessories, including protective eye devices, normally sold with the helmet." (P. 8, sect. 6.2)

The helmets are only sold with around 4cm-wide front-side visors which leave back of the neck, ears, and a part of the face exposed to direct sunlight.

As from 3), such sun protection is inadequate.

Treadley Tourer helmet hat: unsafe, untested attachment

Treadley Tourer helmet hat from the web site ( http://www.treadley.com.au/shop/tourer-silver-birch/ ).

(1) Unlike wide-brimmed hats, the Treadley Tourer helmet hat does not protect the left and right sides of the face.

The radiation protection standards require to protect workers against the sunlight using wide-brimmed (>7cm) hats that protect the head from all sides.

• "Broad brimmed (>7cm) hats provide the best protection for the face, neck and ears." (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency Radiation protection standard for occupational exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Annex 3. Limiting excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (uvr) in the workplace. Page 24.)

Side flaps cannot protect the the face fully because the vision clearance of the helmet shall not be less than 105 degrees on each side in accordance with the Australian bicycle helmets standard:

• "When measured at the basic plane in accordance with AS/NZS 2512.6, the peripheral vision clearance of the helmet shall not be less than 105 degrees on each side of the mid-sagittal plane. In addition, the brow opening of the helmet, and on peaked helmets the outer edge of the peak, shall be at least 25mm above all points in the basic plane that are within the specified angle or peripheral vision clearance." (AS/NZ 2063, page 9, section 7.2.)

(2) No indication that Treadley Tourer helmet hat complies with the Australian bicycle helmets standard

The AS/NZ 2063 standard forbids attachments outside of the helmet except those recommended by manufacturer.

• "No attachments should be made to the helmet except those recommended by the helmet manufacturer" (AS/NZ 2063, page 11, section 9.)

The AS/NZ 2063 standard requires to test helmets accompanied by all the accessories:

• "The helmets shall be supplied to the test facility in the condition in which they are offered for sale and shall be accompanied by all attachments and accessories, including protective eye devices, normally sold with the helmet." (AS/NZ 2063, page 8, section 6.2.)

The web site of Treadley Tourer helmet does not provide any information about what helmets it was tested with and what manufacturers recommend to use this hat. For example the helmet hat includes a hard part of the vizor.

Such helmet hat can be unsafe in the event of an impact and this situation should be tested.