STUDSON Achieves Dual Certification for SHK-1 Safety Helmet for Workers in the US and Canada

July 23, 2025

STUDSON announced that its flagship SHK-1 Full Brim safety helmet has achieved dual certification under both Canadian CSA Standard Z94.1-15 (R2024) and American ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 (R2019) at the ASSP Safety 2025 Conference in Orlando. The groundbreaking achievement makes the SHK-1 the first Type II safety helmet of its kind to provide seamless compliance for workers operating across the U.S.-Canada border, addressing a critical safety compliance and operational challenge.

While helmet designs have evolved, many Canadian workers were still relying on outdated hard hat technologies. This new helmet represents a significant milestone in industrial safety, particularly for workers in the construction, oil and gas, forestry, and mining industries operating in Canada and across the US-Canadian border. To meet and exceed CSA Z94.1 while maintaining ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 certification standards, the project required rigorous materials testing, extensive structural analysis, and close collaboration with third-party certifiers to ensure compliance with impact, penetration, and environmental resistance criteria.

“It was clear the Canadian market needed more than a helmet—it needed a leap forward in protection, comfort, and performance, and the dual-certified SHK-1 fills that gap,” said Ryan Barnes, founder and CEO, STUDSON.  “We are also solving a compliance problem that has plagued cross-border industrial operations for decades. Workers can bring the same STUDSON SHK-1 safety helmet they prefer to wear to the job site no matter what side of the border they are on.”

Joint CSA and ANSI/ISEA Certification

To achieve the dual certification, STUDSON worked closely with KOROYD, its provider of Advanced Impact Technology inside the helmet. KOROYD crumples on impact to absorb maximum force, reducing the risk of life-altering head injuries from both direct and angled impacts. The redesign required increased amounts of KOROYD material and a reduction in expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, further improving upon the ventilation and breathability of the original SHK-1 Full Brim helmet.

“Engineering a helmet that excels under both testing protocols required innovative materials science and design optimization,” said Chris Ellerby, director of industrial safety and defense, KOROYD. “KOROYD developed the impact protection system, using its expertise derived from engineering solutions across different verticals, that could perform optimally whether facing the focused impact of ANSI testing or the distributed loading of CSA protocols. The dual-performance capability makes the SHK-1 even more robust and protective under real-world impact scenarios.”

Building upon STUDSON’s reputation for incorporating advanced protection technologies from action sports into industrial safety equipment, the helmet also integrates Twiceme technology that stores emergency contact details and critical medical information for first responders during emergencies, along with data for occupational health and safety managers to better track and manage safety helmet inventory and worker certifications for regulatory compliance.

The dual-certified helmet includes the same comfort and usability features found in existing SHK-1 safety helmets, including the rear dial-fit system for easy adjustment and the four-point chin strap system with Fidlock magnetic buckle for one-handed operation even with gloves. The Class C version features enhanced ventilation for comfort, and both the Class C and Class E are available in a low-profile, full-brim design. The dual-certified SHK-1 Full Brim safety helmet remains compatible with the full range of STUDSON accessories, including half shields, full-face mesh shields, telescoping headlamps, and ear defenders.

“The SHK-1 Full Brim for the Canadian market reflects a combination of advanced materials, worker insights, and an uncompromising focus on safety,” said Barnes. “Canada deserves the best in head protection. STUDSON is here to deliver it.”

To see samples of the dual-certified SHK-1 Full Brim safety helmet, along with its full lineup of above-the-neck personal protective equipment (PPE), visit the STUDSON booth at ASSP Safety 2025 at the Orlando Convention Center, booth #2301, July 22-24, 2025. 

Visitors can also see the SHK-1 featuring the buckle-free HighBar mono-chinstrap safety system, which will be available for purchase starting in October. 

The dual-certified SHK-1 will become available for purchase later this year. To learn more, visit https://studson.com/pages/dual-certification.