Cookie Policy

Last updated: January 1, 2025

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device when you visit them. They are stored in your browser and sent back to the originating website on subsequent visits, or to other websites that recognize the cookie. Cookies are widely used to make websites work efficiently, to provide a better experience for visitors, and to give website operators information about how their sites are being used.

Similar technologies include web beacons (small transparent images embedded in web pages or emails), local storage (data stored in your browser's local storage object, which unlike cookies is not sent to the server on each request), and session storage (similar to local storage but cleared when the browser session ends). This Cookie Policy covers all such technologies used on hardhatpulse.com.

HardHat Pulse, Inc. operates hardhatpulse.com and is the data controller for cookie data collected on this website. Our contact information is at the end of this policy.

2. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • To make the website function correctly: Some cookies are essential for the website to operate. Without them, certain features would not work.
  • To remember your preferences: Preference cookies allow us to remember your choices, such as your cookie consent decision, so you don't have to re-enter this information on every visit.
  • To understand how visitors use our website: Analytics cookies help us understand which pages are most visited, where visitors come from, and how they navigate through the site. This information helps us improve the website.
  • To measure the effectiveness of our marketing: Marketing cookies allow us to understand whether visitors from specific channels (for example, from a Google ad) take actions on our website such as requesting a product demonstration.

HardHat Pulse does not use cookies to serve third-party advertising to visitors of our website, and we do not share cookie data with advertising networks for retargeting purposes.

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)

Essential cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually set in response to actions you take, such as filling in forms or setting privacy preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Cookie Name Provider Purpose Expiry
hp_cookie_consent hardhatpulse.com Stores your cookie consent preference (accepted or declined) to prevent the consent banner from reappearing on subsequent visits 1 year
hp_session hardhatpulse.com Maintains your authenticated session when logged into the platform dashboard Session
XSRF-TOKEN hardhatpulse.com Cross-site request forgery protection token required for secure form submission Session

3.2 Functional/Preference Cookies

Functional cookies enable the website to remember choices you have made and provide enhanced, more personalized features. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.

Cookie Name Provider Purpose Expiry
hp_dash_prefs hardhatpulse.com Stores dashboard layout preferences and column display settings for authenticated users 6 months
hp_timezone hardhatpulse.com Stores detected or selected timezone to display alert timestamps and reports in local time 1 year

3.3 Analytics Cookies

Analytics cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our website. They help us understand which pages are the most and least popular and how visitors move through the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you have visited our website.

Cookie Name Provider Purpose Expiry
_ga Google Analytics Registers a unique ID to generate statistical data about how the visitor uses the website 2 years
_ga_[ID] Google Analytics Used by Google Analytics 4 to persist session state and count page views in a visit 2 years
_gid Google Analytics Registers a unique ID to generate statistical data about how the visitor uses the website; used to distinguish users within a 24-hour period 24 hours
_gat Google Analytics Used to throttle request rate to Google Analytics to limit data collection on high-traffic sites 1 minute

We use Google Analytics with IP anonymization enabled. This means the last octet of your IP address is replaced with zeros before storage, so your full IP address is never stored in Google Analytics. We also use Google Analytics in restricted data processing mode where applicable.

3.4 Marketing Cookies

Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites and to show relevant content and messages based on your interests. These cookies are set only when you have consented to marketing cookies through the cookie consent banner.

Cookie Name Provider Purpose Expiry
_gcl_au Google Ads Used by Google Ads to store and track conversions — whether a website visitor who clicked a Google Ad took an action such as requesting a demo 3 months
li_sugr LinkedIn Used by LinkedIn Insight Tag to track conversions and collect aggregated audience insights from LinkedIn ad campaigns 3 months
UserMatchHistory LinkedIn LinkedIn Insight Tag cookie used to sync ad targeting data across LinkedIn's services 1 month

4. Local Storage

In addition to cookies, our website uses browser local storage for the following purposes:

  • hp_cookie_state (local storage): Stores your cookie consent decision using localStorage rather than a cookie, to ensure the consent banner does not reappear after you have made your choice. This value is not transmitted to the server.
  • hp_dash_state (local storage): Stores your dashboard navigation state and open/closed panel preferences for authenticated users. Cleared when you log out.

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

5.1 Cookie Banner

When you first visit hardhatpulse.com, a cookie banner will appear at the bottom of the screen providing you with the option to accept or decline non-essential cookies. Essential cookies cannot be declined as they are required for the website to function. Your choice is stored and the banner will not reappear on subsequent visits unless you clear your browser storage or reset your preferences.

To change your cookie preferences at any time, you can clear your browser's local storage for hardhatpulse.com (the method varies by browser — typically found in Developer Tools or Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data) and reload the page. The cookie consent banner will reappear and allow you to make a new selection.

5.2 Browser Controls

Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically find these settings in the "Options," "Preferences," or "Settings" menu of your browser. Options available in most modern browsers include:

  • Blocking all cookies: Note that blocking essential cookies will prevent some parts of our website and the platform dashboard from functioning correctly.
  • Blocking third-party cookies: Prevents analytics and marketing cookies set by third parties (Google, LinkedIn) while allowing first-party cookies.
  • Deleting existing cookies: Clears all stored cookies and local storage, which will reset your cookie consent preference and may log you out of the platform.
  • Being notified before cookies are placed: Prompts you for approval before each cookie is set.

For instructions specific to your browser:

  • Google Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data
  • Mozilla Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
  • Microsoft Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies
  • Apple Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data

5.3 Opt-Out Tools for Specific Providers

You may opt out of Google Analytics tracking specifically by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on, available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. This prevents Google Analytics from collecting information about your visits to websites that use it.

You may opt out of LinkedIn ad tracking by visiting LinkedIn's ad preferences settings in your LinkedIn account, or by visiting the LinkedIn Opt-Out page if you do not have a LinkedIn account.

You may also use the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out tool at optout.aboutads.info or the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out tool at optout.networkadvertising.org to manage advertising cookies from participating companies.

6. Third-Party Cookies and Content

Our website may include embedded content (such as video demonstrations) or links to third-party services. These third-party services may set their own cookies when you interact with embedded content. We do not control third-party cookies and their use is governed by the privacy policies of the respective third parties.

Third-party providers whose services may set cookies on hardhatpulse.com include:

  • Google, Inc. — Google Analytics and Google Ads conversion tracking. Google's privacy policy is available at policies.google.com/privacy.
  • LinkedIn Corporation — LinkedIn Insight Tag for B2B campaign measurement. LinkedIn's privacy policy is available at linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.
  • Stripe, Inc. — Payment processing. Stripe's privacy policy is available at stripe.com/privacy. Stripe cookies are set only on payment processing pages.
  • Wistia, Inc. — Video hosting for product demonstration videos. Wistia's privacy policy is available at wistia.com/privacy.

7. Cookies in the Platform Application

The HardHat Pulse supervisor dashboard and mobile application (accessible at app.hardhatpulse.com) use session cookies and local storage for authentication and user preference management as described in the Essential and Functional cookies sections above. The platform application does not use analytics or marketing cookies; usage analytics within the authenticated application are collected through our own logging infrastructure rather than through browser cookies.

8. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use, changes in applicable law, or changes in our business practices. The "last updated" date at the top of this policy reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be communicated through the cookie consent banner on your next visit to hardhatpulse.com, which will request a fresh consent decision for any newly introduced cookie categories.

9. Contact

For questions about cookies or this Cookie Policy, contact us at:

HardHat Pulse, Inc.
Attn: Privacy
1200 Smith St
Houston, TX 77002
United States
Email: contact@hardhatpulse.com
Phone: +1 (713) 482-9376

See also our full Privacy Policy for information on how HardHat Pulse collects and uses personal data more broadly, and our Terms of Service for the terms governing use of the platform.