Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 16, 2026

Hardhat Bench, LLC ("Hardhat Bench," "we," "us," or "our") operates the website at hardhatbench.com (the "Platform"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our Platform, create an account, or use our services.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

  • Account information: name, email address, password, user type (professional or company).
  • Profile information: professional certifications, work history, city/state, phone number, company name, headline, bio, and photo.
  • Payment information: billing details processed securely through Stripe. We do not store your full credit card number on our servers.
  • Communications: messages, forum posts, reviews, and support inquiries you submit through the Platform.

Information Collected Automatically

  • Usage data: pages visited, features used, timestamps, referring URLs, and interactions with the Platform.
  • Device information: browser type, operating system, IP address, and device identifiers.
  • Cookies and similar technologies: see Section 4 below.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Create and manage your account.
  • Connect safety professionals with companies seeking talent.
  • Process payments and manage subscriptions.
  • Verify professional certifications.
  • Send transactional emails (account verification, placement updates, password resets).
  • Send marketing communications (with your consent; you may opt out at any time).
  • Improve and personalize the Platform experience.
  • Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and security issues.
  • Comply with legal obligations.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

  • Other Platform users: your public profile information (name, headline, certifications, city/state) is visible to other users as part of the marketplace. Private fields (phone, email, rates) are shared only according to your privacy settings.
  • Service providers: third-party vendors that help us operate the Platform, including Supabase (database and authentication), Stripe (payments), Resend (email), and Vercel (hosting).
  • Legal requirements: when required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
  • Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

4. Cookies and Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how visitors interact with the Platform. GA4 collects anonymized usage data including pages viewed, session duration, and traffic sources. Google may use this data in accordance with its own privacy policy.

We use essential cookies for authentication and session management. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings, though disabling essential cookies may affect Platform functionality.

5. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you.
  • Request correction of inaccurate information.
  • Request deletion of your account and personal data.
  • Object to or restrict certain processing of your data.
  • Data portability — receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@hardhatbench.com or use the account deletion feature in your profile settings.

6. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the CCPA:

  • Right to Know: you may request details about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
  • Right to Delete: you may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: we will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.
  • No Sale of Personal Information: we do not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA.

To submit a CCPA request, email privacy@hardhatbench.com with the subject line "CCPA Request."

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. When you request account deletion, we soft-delete your profile data (removing it from public visibility) and permanently purge personally identifiable information within 30 days, unless retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., fraud prevention, legal claims).

8. Children

The Platform is intended for users who are at least 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we learn that we have collected information from a person under 18, we will delete it promptly.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" above. Your continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at:

Last updated: April 16, 2026