The Continued Rise of Smart Helmets

IoT-enabled helmets are helping to redefine what it means to protect the head and thusly redefine safety on the job site. Here are two innovations recently seen at ASSP Safety 2025.

• By David Kopf
• Sep 08, 2025

For decades, hardhats and helmets have been the simplest and most recognizable form of workplace protection. Their primary role, absorbing impact and shielding the head, has changed little since they were first mandated on jobsites. But today, how helmets fulfill that role is evolving. Thanks to advances in the Internet of Things (IoT) and other technologies, safety helmets are no longer just about physical protection. They are becoming information collectors, communication devices, and emergency response tools. 

This transformation reflects a larger trend in occupational safety: PPE that was once considered “dumb” equipment is now being equipped with sensors, chips, and wireless connections. At ASSP Safety 2025, the industry got a close look at how smart helmets are leading this wave. These innovations show that workers’ helmets won’t just sit on their heads but rather will actively contribute to keeping them safe. 

Why Connected Helmets Matter 

Workplace accidents remain one of the greatest challenges for safety leaders. Falls, struck-by incidents, and sudden medical emergencies often unfold in seconds, leaving workers incapacitated. In these situations, time is critical. A rapid response can mean the difference between a minor injury and a fatal one. 

Traditional helmets offer excellent protection from impact, but they can’t call for help or provide lifesaving information. IoT-enabled helmets close that gap. They do so in several important ways: 

• Immediate alerting. Helmets can automatically notify others when an incident occurs, even if the worker can’t. 

• Information access. Embedded chips can provide first responders with vital medical details, improving treatment decisions. 

• Preventive monitoring. Connected PPE can log inspection data, track wear-and-tear, and support compliance before issues arise. 

These capabilities don’t just reduce risk—they fundamentally change how employers manage safety. They offer a bridge between prevention and response, ensuring that when an accident happens, workers aren’t left alone. 

This year’s ASSP show in Orlando featured several emerging safety technologies, but two helmet-based solutions stood out: Quin and Twiceme. Each takes a different approach, but together they highlight how IoT is reshaping head protection. 

Quin: Crash Detection for Workers 

Quin began outside of occupational safety. Originally developed for motorcycle helmets, the company’s system uses embedded sensors to detect severe impacts. If a crash is detected, the helmet triggers a short countdown. Unless canceled by the wearer, it automatically sends an SOS alert—including GPS location—to pre-set emergency contacts. 

The implications for worker safety are significant. On a construction site, in a mine, or in remote fieldwork, a fall or struck-by incident can leave an employee unconscious or isolated. Without help, valuable minutes are lost. Quin’s system ensures that an emergency is flagged immediately, even if the worker is incapacitated. 

The technology also provides safety managers with impact analytics through its mobile app. This data can reveal patterns of accidents, highlight risk-prone tasks, and guide training programs. In this sense, Quin isn’t just a reactionary tool—it’s also a preventative one, turning incident data into insight. 

Twiceme: Instant Access to Critical Information 

While Quin is focused on automatic detection and alerting, Twiceme tackles another critical problem: communication when seconds matter. The company integrates a near-field communication (NFC) chip directly into helmets and other PPE. By tapping a smartphone against the helmet, responders can instantly access the wearer’s emergency profile. 

That profile can include medical conditions, allergies, blood type, emergency contacts, and even safety certifications. This is particularly valuable when a worker is unconscious or unable to speak. Instead of searching through personal belongings or waiting for medical records, responders can immediately see what they need to know to deliver effective care. 

Twiceme also plays a role in prevention. The same NFC system can store equipment inspection data, giving supervisors an easy way to verify that helmets are fit for use. This streamlines compliance while reducing the likelihood of equipment-related failures. 

How They Connect 

Though they initially originated in different contexts, Quin in motorcycling and Twiceme in industrial PPE, both technologies point toward the same destination when it comes to worker safety. Their presence together at ASSP Safety 2025 underscores three themes shaping the future of helmets: 

• Smart helmets are continuing to evolve toward being the rule, not the exception. These tools are moving beyond pilots and niche markets. Safety managers are beginning to expect helmets to do more than absorb impact. They’re expected to communicate, track, and respond. 

• Complementary strengths. Quin provides detection and automatic alerting, while Twiceme delivers critical information for responders. One ensures that an incident isn’t missed; the other ensures that the right care is given. Together, they create a full-circle safety response. 

• Cross-industry convergence. Safety innovations are no longer confined to their original industries. Motorcycle crash detection now has applications in construction. NFC technology from sports helmets is finding a role in industrial safety. This cross-pollination accelerates adoption and innovation. 

The Future of Connected PPE 

The helmets on display at ASSP Safety 2025 represent more than just new product features. They point to a larger shift: a world where PPE itself becomes part of an integrated safety system. In the near future, it’s not hard to imagine connected helmets syncing with vests, gloves, or boots, all designed to monitor workers’ environments, track fatigue, and trigger alerts in real time. 

For now, Quin and Twiceme offer a glimpse of that future. Quin ensures that a head impact won’t go unnoticed. Twiceme ensures responders have the knowledge they need to act quickly. Together, they demonstrate that smart helmets are not only possible but practical, and that the future of head protection will be defined as much by connectivity as by impact resistance. 

As IoT continues to make inroads into work safety, the hardhat is no longer just a symbol of construction work. It’s becoming a symbol of innovation, communication, and lifesaving potential. 

This article originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.