Claim:
President Joe Biden wore a hard hat backwards during a photo op with union construction workers in Superior, Wisconsin.
Snopes: False
Snopes say:
it does look, at first glance, like Biden was wearing that hard hat backwards. But after comparing it to other photos and videos of the same event, we were forced to reach the opposite conclusion: The hat on Biden’s head was facing forward, bill to the front, not backward.
Link to the article: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/biden-wear-hardhat-backwards/
Here is a pdf of the article:
We say: True
Justification
Oh my dear god. Of course it is on backwards, the nape strap is on his forehead! Snopes try to conflate the direction of the bill/peak with the hats direction, when the internal structure (the suspension system) of the hat is intrinsically sitting backwards on his head when it should not.
This hat is not being worn correctly on his head and would offer no protection at all as it would easily fall off if knocked. Not to mention it must have felt awful on his head and probably left a bruise to boot.
Evidence
When thinking about hats peaks/bills, they do not dictate hat direction and will be different depending on the needs of the role that a hat is being worn for.
For example, is this firefighter’s hat backwards due to the peak being at the back?
No, it is there as protection for the neck.
There are many guides on the internet for how to wear a hard hat, and an example is below showing how the nape strap goes in the nape of your neck, at the back of your head!
This image is from bigrentz.com (an online construction equipment rental marketplace) and is part of a guide in how to wear a hard hat.
Linked here: https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/how-to-wear-a-hard-hat#:~:text=The headband of the hat, your hard hat less effective.
As in this diagram Joe Biden has a hard hat with a nape strap as above, that is supposed to be tightened at the back of your head.
bigrentz write:
The most important part of wearing a hard hat is ensuring its proper fit.
The ratchet located on the back of the nape strap allows for an adjustable fit that you can tighten or loosen each time you wear the hat
Conclusion
Does this even need a conclusion? It is clear that Snopes will literally say anything to appease their paymasters.
Anyone want to razz that fact check for being politically motivated in the face of the observable evidence?
Yes, I do!
