Yes, you can put stickers on a hard hat, as long as they don't get in the way of what the hat is for. Names, company logos, first aid and fire warden markers and induction stickers are on hard hats on most Australian worksites. The rules are about where they go, what they are made of and what they cover.
This guide covers what the standards guidance says, where stickers should and should not go, the sizes that fit, and how to apply them so they last the life of the hat.
Are stickers allowed on hard hats in Australia?
Generally, yes. Industrial safety helmets in Australia are made to AS/NZS 1801, and the guidance on selecting and caring for them (AS/NZS 1800) accepts stickers that don't interfere with the helmet's protection. That guidance notes that self-adhesive stickers have generally been found not to harm the shell, but recommends checking that an adhesive won't degrade the shell material before using it.
In practice that means four rules:
- Check the maker's instructions. Some helmet manufacturers say which stickers and adhesives are compatible with their shell. Theirs is the final word.
- Self-adhesive vinyl stickers only. Never paint a hard hat, and keep solvents, solvent-based markers and spray adhesives away from the shell: they can attack the plastic.
- Never cover damage. A crack, a deep scratch or a dent means the hat needs replacing, not hiding.
- Don't cover the hat's own markings, such as the standard it complies with, the maker's details or the date of manufacture.
If the shell around a sticker ever turns cloudy, tacky or etched, take the sticker off and have the hat inspected.
Where should stickers go on a hard hat?
On the smooth, gently curved parts of the dome: the front for a company logo, and the sides for a name, a ticket or a role marker. Keep stickers off the brim and the peak, where the shell flexes and edges tend to lift, and leave the ridges and vents clear. Small stickers follow a curve far better than big ones, so two small stickers usually beat one large one.
What size sticker fits a hard hat?
| Sticker | Good size |
|---|---|
| Company logo on the front | 4–5cm circle or die cut |
| Name on the side | 3 × 4.5cm or 5 × 7.5cm rectangle |
| First aid, fire warden or ticket marker | 4–5cm circle |
| Induction or site-access sticker | 4cm circle or square |
Above about 6.5cm, a flat sticker starts to struggle on the curve of the dome. You can check a size against the side of a hat in our decal size planner.
What do hard hat colours mean?
There is no single national colour code that every Australian site uses. Many sites use colours to show roles, such as a different colour for supervisors or visitors, but the scheme is set by the site or the company, so check yours. Stickers are a more flexible way to show roles: a green first aid cross or a fire warden sticker can go on whatever hat a worker already has.
How do I apply a sticker to a hard hat?
- Clean the spot with mild soapy water, rinse and dry it completely. Don't use solvents to clean the shell.
- Apply at room temperature, not on a hat that has been sitting in a hot ute or out in the cold.
- Start from the centre and press outwards, smoothing the sticker onto the curve so the edges go down last.
- Run a thumb firmly round the edges and leave it a day before the hat goes back into hard use.
Our stickers are vinyl with a protective laminate, rated for up to five years outdoors, so they hold up to sun and rain. Hard hats have their own service life set by the maker, and a sticker doesn't change that: when the hat is replaced, the sticker goes with it, so order a few spares.
Stickers for a whole crew?
Every name is a different design, so ordering ten of each name adds up. A cheaper way is a sticker sheet with the whole crew's names on one design: each sheet holds every name, cut individually, so one sheet covers the crew and the rest are spares for new hats. Sheets start at 10 A6 sheets for $65.
For company logos, circle stickers start at 10 for $16 at 4cm, and die cut stickers cut to your logo's outline start at 10 for $19 at 5cm. We print in Sydney within 1–2 business days and ship free Australia-wide.
