The hard hat is an iconic symbol of construction, but over the past few years, there has been a push to transition the industry to the safety helmet. Advocates say the climbing-style head covering is safer and more comfortable for workers.

But the transition hasn’t always gone smoothly. It’s taken adoption by progressive, safety-oriented companies and major buy-in from workers—and even still, there are major obstacles to widespread acceptance.

Reprinted courtesy of Grace Austin, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.