Hard Hat Headband

The challenge

Chiari Malformation is when the brain is being pulled down through the skull and causes pressure on the brainstem. The straps of a hard hat press directly on that area, making a standard hard hat impossible to wear.

Who it helps

Emily works for an oil pipeline company. Her job requires site visits where a hard hat is required. She has trouble wearing one because of where the straps fall on her head, which causes issues due to Chiari Malformation.

How it works

The soft knit band removes the pressure in a sensitive location to avoid Chiari symptoms. It resembles the typical practice of wearing a hat under a hard hat. It also keeps the hard hat stable on her head with a good fit to protect her on site.

This solution removes the section of the band causing pressure without compromising the protective suspension system of the hat. It is replaced with velcro and a knit fabric band that extends down her head.

Tools needed

Measurement tool

sewing machine

scissors

Project details

• Stage: Prototype
• Built by the Thomas Jefferson University community, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
• Team: Emily
• Category: Daily Living
• 8 downloads

The build files for Hard Hat Headband are free to download from this page - open source, shared by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.

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