Parents and GAA players are being warned to stop using counterfeit hurling and camogie helmets immediately.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the GAA have issued the urgent warning about all ‘Gola’ branded helmets.
They say the helmets pose a risk of serious injury to the face, head, and eyes.
The company Gola does not make helmets, and does not licence the Gola brand to any other company to make helmets.
However, counterfeit ‘Gola’ branding has been added to batches of substandard, retro-style helmets, with product safety inspections finding protruding screws and sharp edges.
CCPC Member Patrick Kenny said,
“Do not purchase one of these helmets for yourself or anyone else this Christmas. Our product safety officers are working to remove these dangerous helmets from the Irish market. If you currently use one of these helmets, stop using it and buy a standard, CE-marked helmet from a reputable retailer instead.”
Chairperson of the Gaelic Games Helmet Work Group, Jim Bolger, said,
“Purchasing and using a compliant helmet system (helmet complete with faceguard added at the point of manufacture, thus making it an item of Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE) which meets the NSAI standard, IS:355, is of the utmost importance in terms of ensuring player safety and welfare in hurling and camogie at all levels. It is worth noting that if a helmet system is purchased when incomplete (i.e., without a compatible faceguard) it cannot be considered an item of PPE.”
“In particular, we are concerned about juvenile players using these helmets and encourage parents and players to only buy helmets from reputable sources.”
As the ‘Gola’ brand added to these helmets is counterfeit, it is highly likely that any CE mark on the helmets is also counterfeit. Hurling and camogie helmets must have a CE mark to show that the helmet meets the required health and safety standards.
The helmets bearing the counterfeit ‘Gola’ brand are also manufactured without faceguards. In order to meet health and safety standards, faceguards must be added at the point of manufacture and not afterwards.
Advice to consumers
Buy your helmet from a reputable retailer – not an unreliable online source – and make sure you ask these four safety questions first:
- Is the helmet fully assembled? A safe helmet should have a faceguard attached at the point of manufacture. You should not need to attach a faceguard.
- Are there any obvious dangers? Watch out for sharp edges, sharp points, rough surfaces, or protruding screws. Do not wear the helmet if you find any of these dangers.
- Is there a CE mark on the helmet? If there is no CE mark, don’t buy it.
- Are the labels and instructions clear and comprehensive? All hurling and camogie helmets should be accompanied by instructions and information in a language which can be easily understood by users. Such instructions and information, as well as any labelling, should be clear and understandable.
Do not modify the helmet in any way after you buy it.
You can download the consumer guidance on helmet safety for full details of the safety risks of wearing a faulty helmet, as well as information on what to do next if you suspect you have purchased an unsafe helmet.
Further information around hurling/camogie helmet rules and guidance can be found here - https://learning.gaa.ie/mouthguardshurlinghelmets
If you have safety concerns about a helmet you’ve already purchased, stop using the product immediately and contact the CCPC consumer helpline on 01 402 5555 / [email protected]
