Bullard donates hardhats to support UK entertainment technicians
Bullard, a OneUK partner and Kentucky-based manufacturer of personal protective equipment, has donated Type 2 hard hats to University of Kentucky Fine Arts entertainment technicians, providing students with enhanced safety equipment while creating an opportunity for industry feedback.
The donation supports students who work behind the scenes on performances and events, where overhead hazards and technical rigging are common but high-quality safety equipment is not always standard in the entertainment industry.
“We were excited to support the University of Kentucky’s entertainment technicians because safety and performance matter just as much behind the scenes as they do on any jobsite,” Carlos Torres, Global Product Manager at Bullard said. “These students are gaining hands-on experience in real working environments, and their feedback is incredibly valuable as we continue to design head protection that prioritizes safety, comfort, functionality, and real-world use. We’re proud to partner with the University of Kentucky and look forward to learning from the next generation of industry professionals.”
Bullard is widely recognized as the inventor of the modern hard hat and has spent more than a century developing protective equipment for workers in high-risk environments. The company designs and manufactures safety solutions used across industries including construction, manufacturing, and emergency response. In addition to improving on-the-job safety, the partnership allows entertainment technicians to test the hard hats in real-world conditions and share feedback with Bullard. That insight may help inform future product development for an industry that often operates with limited investment in protective gear.
“This Bullard collaboration has provided vital PPE for the students operating in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Theatre & Dance when working on stage with overhead hazards,” Zak Stribling Production Manager & Technical Director for UK’s College of Fine Arts said. “With that equipment in-hand students are being trained in real-time as to when and why hard hat PPE is needed and required, enabling them to go forward in their professional pursuits expecting and practicing proper PPE usage. With Bullard technology as the standard, students are actively learning the differences between basic and quality head protection, in terms of both comfort and levels of protection, furthering their expectations for jobsite safety in theatre. This positive interaction with Bullard in higher education actively changes the culture and professional standards for future professionals by raising the standards and expectations for safe practice.”
This collaboration was made through OneUK, a University of Kentucky initiative that connects the university with private-sector partners to strengthen workforce development, research collaboration, and student learning opportunities. OneUK partners work alongside faculty and staff to address real world challenges while preparing students for careers across a range of industries.