A rigid, impact-resistant helmet required on all active building sites to protect against falling objects and electrical hazards. In casual trade talk, the word also refers to the construction workers themselves. The color of the helmet often indicates the person's role, with white typically reserved for managers, engineers, or site supervisors.
Heard on the job
Tell the hardhats in the trench to clear out while we swing this pipe over.
Related terms
General contractor
The primary entity responsible for overseeing a construction project and managing subcontractors.
Subtrader
A specialized contractor hired to perform a specific portion of the work on a construction project.
Shift
The deliberate staggering of vertical joints in successive courses of masonry or planking.