Ed Bullard was a true visionary who made a lasting impact on the world of industrial safety. Born in the late 19th century, he grew up in a family that was already deeply involved in the safety business. His father, Edward Dickinson Bullard, was the founder of the E.D. Bullard Company in San Francisco, which sold carbide lamps and mining gear to gold and copper miners.
Edward W. Bullard served in the U.S. Army during WWI and upon returning home, he went to work for his family’s company. He saw the need for better safety in the mines, and drawing inspiration from the steel helmet he wore in the army, he set out to create a solution. In 1919, he patented the “Hard-Boiled Hat,” a steamed canvas, glue, and black paint hat that would change the game for industrial safety.
An image from the original patent filing for the hard boiled hat
Back in the day, wearing personal protective equipment, like a hard hat, was seen as a sign of being soft or even chicken. Can you believe it? If you were doing a dangerous job, you might stuff your hat with cotton or paper for a little extra protection, or you might even make your own hard hat by smearing tar on a cloth hat and waiting for it to dry. But then along came Bullard and changed everything.
Another image from the original patent filing for the hard boiled hat
The Hard Boiled Hat eventually became a hit, and soon workers in all kinds of industries were wearing it. For example, it caught the attention of the U.S. Navy who commissioned him to create a protective cap for shipyard workers. Edward W. Bullard went on to make several improvements to his original design, including an adjustable suspension system, , drawing inspiration from the steel M1917 “Brodie” military helmet, and this new design provided better protection workers. Bullard’s hat was the first standardized safety hat in the US, and it marked the start of the PPE industry. His company, E.D. Bullard, continued to expand and evolve, becoming a leading manufacturer of personal protective equipment and systems that are sold worldwide.
The hard hat was used by workers on iconic sites like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam, and it became a mandatory piece of equipment for workers everywhere. Over time, advances in materials and technology have improved hard hat construction, and now, over 6 million hard hats are sold each year in the United States alone.
The hard boiled hats were worn during construction of the Hoover Dam; Concrete tampers release concrete from a crane bucket, ready to spread its contents.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that wearing a hard hat became mandatory on work sites in the US, thanks to the creation of OSHA. And let me tell you, the hard hat has come a long way since then. Materials like fiberglass and thermoplastics have made hard hats stronger and more comfortable. In the US alone, over 6 million hard hats are sold each year.
Courtesy of the Clark County Museum in Henderson, Nevada
In 2022, Edward W. Bullard was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a testament to his impact on the world of industrial safety and the lives of workers everywhere. The next time you put on your hard hat, remember the man who made it all possible.
Today, Bullard is still a family-owned company, and it is led by Edward W. Bullard’s great-granddaughter, Wells Bullard.
So, the next time you put on your hard hat, take a moment to think about Edward W. Bullard and all the folks at Bullard Co. who have been working to improve the safety and lives of workers for the past 100 years. And with fifth-generation CEO Wells Bullard at the helm, that legacy is sure to continue.
References:
- https://www.invent.org/inductees/edward-bullard
- https://www.jlconline.com/products-tools/bullards-hard-boiled-hat_o
- https://www.bullard.com/about/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_hat
You know, as we talked about the history of hard hats and the innovative engineering principles established by Bullard Co., it’s important to remember that wearing personal protective equipment is just one aspect of keeping workers safe on the job. That’s why training and education are so crucial.
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