Abstract: A method of monitoring safety helmets comprising several steps. A unique identifier is provided on each of a plurality of safety helmets, and the unique identifiers are stored in a database. A plurality of the helmets are inspected and the unique identifier is read for each of the inspected helmets. For each inspected helmet, the date of inspection is stored in the database with reference to the respective unique identifier, and for each inspected helmet, a period from the date of its inspection to the present time is monitored. Helmets for which the period exceeds a predetermined period are subsequently identified and for those helmets the steps of inspection, identifier reading, and storage of date of inspection with reference to the identifier are repeated.