diff --git a/DataFormats/Detectors/GlobalTracking/src/RecoContainer.cxx b/DataFormats/Detectors/GlobalTracking/src/RecoContainer.cxx
index 832e403919d55..6754e5cd7f76c 100644
--- a/DataFormats/Detectors/GlobalTracking/src/RecoContainer.cxx
+++ b/DataFormats/Detectors/GlobalTracking/src/RecoContainer.cxx
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@
 #include "ReconstructionDataFormats/VtxTrackRef.h"
 #include "ReconstructionDataFormats/TrackCosmics.h"
 #include "DataFormatsITSMFT/TrkClusRef.h"
+// FIXME: ideally, the data formats definition should be independent of the framework
+// collectData is using the input of ProcessingContext to extract the first valid
+// header and the TF orbit from it
+#include "Framework/ProcessingContext.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 using namespace o2::globaltracking;
 using namespace o2::framework;
@@ -306,7 +311,7 @@ void RecoContainer::collectData(ProcessingContext& pc, const DataRequest& reques
 {
   auto& reqMap = requests.requestMap;
 
-  const auto* dh = o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true).header);
+  const auto* dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true));
   startIR = {0, dh->firstTForbit};
 
   auto req = reqMap.find("trackITS");
diff --git a/Detectors/GlobalTrackingWorkflow/src/TOFMatcherSpec.cxx b/Detectors/GlobalTrackingWorkflow/src/TOFMatcherSpec.cxx
index b85dcdf7374b3..0c875101486d6 100644
--- a/Detectors/GlobalTrackingWorkflow/src/TOFMatcherSpec.cxx
+++ b/Detectors/GlobalTrackingWorkflow/src/TOFMatcherSpec.cxx
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 #include "DetectorsBase/Propagator.h"
 #include "DetectorsCommonDataFormats/NameConf.h"
 #include "DataFormatsParameters/GRPObject.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "CommonDataFormat/InteractionRecord.h"
 #include "DataFormatsGlobalTracking/RecoContainer.h"
 #include "Framework/Task.h"
diff --git a/Detectors/GlobalTrackingWorkflow/src/TPCITSMatchingSpec.cxx b/Detectors/GlobalTrackingWorkflow/src/TPCITSMatchingSpec.cxx
index 3af30c957afbe..9b43c2bc1da1f 100644
--- a/Detectors/GlobalTrackingWorkflow/src/TPCITSMatchingSpec.cxx
+++ b/Detectors/GlobalTrackingWorkflow/src/TPCITSMatchingSpec.cxx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "DataFormatsTPC/Constants.h"
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/Task.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include <string>
 #include "TStopwatch.h"
 #include "Framework/ConfigParamRegistry.h"
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ void TPCITSMatchingDPL::init(InitContext& ic)
 
 void TPCITSMatchingDPL::run(ProcessingContext& pc)
 {
-  const auto* dh = o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true).header);
+  const auto* dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true));
   LOG(INFO) << " startOrbit: " << dh->firstTForbit;
   mTimer.Start(false);
   RecoContainer recoData;
diff --git a/Detectors/HMPID/workflow/src/DataDecoderSpec2.cxx b/Detectors/HMPID/workflow/src/DataDecoderSpec2.cxx
index 904233f2a1bb9..6cf8fbbb969b4 100644
--- a/Detectors/HMPID/workflow/src/DataDecoderSpec2.cxx
+++ b/Detectors/HMPID/workflow/src/DataDecoderSpec2.cxx
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include "Framework/WorkflowSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/Logger.h"
 #include "Framework/InputRecordWalker.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 #include "Headers/RAWDataHeader.h"
 #include "DetectorsRaw/RDHUtils.h"
@@ -251,13 +252,9 @@ void DataDecoderTask2::decodeRawFile(framework::ProcessingContext& pc)
 
   for (auto&& input : pc.inputs()) {
     if (input.spec->binding == "file") {
-      const header::DataHeader* header = o2::header::get<header::DataHeader*>(input.header);
-      if (!header) {
-        return;
-      }
 
       auto const* raw = input.payload;
-      size_t payloadSize = header->payloadSize;
+      size_t payloadSize = DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(input);
 
       LOG(INFO) << "  payloadSize=" << payloadSize;
       if (payloadSize == 0) {
@@ -265,7 +262,7 @@ void DataDecoderTask2::decodeRawFile(framework::ProcessingContext& pc)
       }
 
       uint32_t* theBuffer = (uint32_t*)input.payload;
-      int pagesize = header->payloadSize;
+      int pagesize = payloadSize;
       mDeco->setUpStream(theBuffer, pagesize);
       try {
         if (mFastAlgorithm) {
diff --git a/Detectors/MUON/MCH/Calibration/src/pedestal-decoding-workflow.cxx b/Detectors/MUON/MCH/Calibration/src/pedestal-decoding-workflow.cxx
index a34f28bf39bc2..5aec03d78dd88 100644
--- a/Detectors/MUON/MCH/Calibration/src/pedestal-decoding-workflow.cxx
+++ b/Detectors/MUON/MCH/Calibration/src/pedestal-decoding-workflow.cxx
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "Framework/WorkflowSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/ConfigParamSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/CompletionPolicyHelpers.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 #include "Headers/RDHAny.h"
 #include "MCHRawDecoder/PageDecoder.h"
@@ -283,13 +284,10 @@ class PedestalsTask
   // the decodeReadout() function processes the messages generated by o2-mch-cru-page-reader-workflow
   void decodeReadout(const o2::framework::DataRef& input)
   {
-    const auto* header = o2::header::get<header::DataHeader*>(input.header);
-    if (!header) {
-      return;
-    }
-
+    // Note: DPL allows to extract the san directly from the input
+    // this would make this function obsolete
     auto const* raw = input.payload;
-    size_t payloadSize = header->payloadSize;
+    size_t payloadSize = DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(input);
 
     gsl::span<const std::byte> buffer(reinterpret_cast<const std::byte*>(raw), payloadSize);
     decodeBuffer(buffer);
diff --git a/Detectors/MUON/MCH/Workflow/src/DataDecoderSpec.cxx b/Detectors/MUON/MCH/Workflow/src/DataDecoderSpec.cxx
index b0916ba8ab1d9..79e98778fb518 100644
--- a/Detectors/MUON/MCH/Workflow/src/DataDecoderSpec.cxx
+++ b/Detectors/MUON/MCH/Workflow/src/DataDecoderSpec.cxx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "Framework/Output.h"
 #include "Framework/Task.h"
 #include "Framework/WorkflowSpec.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 #include "Headers/RAWDataHeader.h"
 #include "DetectorsRaw/RDHUtils.h"
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ class DataDecoderTask
   // the decodeTF() function processes the messages generated by the (sub)TimeFrame builder
   void decodeTF(framework::ProcessingContext& pc)
   {
-    const auto* dh = o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true).header);
+    const auto* dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true));
     mFirstTForbit = dh->firstTForbit;
 
     if (!mDecoder->getFirstOrbitInRun()) {
@@ -137,14 +138,9 @@ class DataDecoderTask
       return;
     }
 
-    const auto* header = o2::header::get<header::DataHeader*>(input.header);
-    if (!header) {
-      return;
-    }
-
     auto const* raw = input.payload;
     // size of payload
-    size_t payloadSize = header->payloadSize;
+    size_t payloadSize = DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(input);
 
     if (mDebug) {
       std::cout << nFrame << "  payloadSize=" << payloadSize << std::endl;
diff --git a/Detectors/TOF/workflow/src/CompressedDecodingTask.cxx b/Detectors/TOF/workflow/src/CompressedDecodingTask.cxx
index 19ed14cc19ded..6ac6e2eedf044 100644
--- a/Detectors/TOF/workflow/src/CompressedDecodingTask.cxx
+++ b/Detectors/TOF/workflow/src/CompressedDecodingTask.cxx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "Framework/Logger.h"
 #include "DetectorsRaw/RDHUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/InputRecordWalker.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 using namespace o2::framework;
 
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ void CompressedDecodingTask::run(ProcessingContext& pc)
   mTimer.Start(false);
 
   //RS set the 1st orbit of the TF from the O2 header, relying on rdhHandler is not good (in fact, the RDH might be eliminated in the derived data)
-  const auto* dh = o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true).header);
+  const auto* dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true));
   mInitOrbit = dh->firstTForbit;
   if (!mConetMode) {
     mDecoder.setFirstIR({0, mInitOrbit});
diff --git a/Detectors/TOF/workflow/src/TOFClusterizerSpec.cxx b/Detectors/TOF/workflow/src/TOFClusterizerSpec.cxx
index 77c13d5db4785..60e9f906eb8fe 100644
--- a/Detectors/TOF/workflow/src/TOFClusterizerSpec.cxx
+++ b/Detectors/TOF/workflow/src/TOFClusterizerSpec.cxx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "TOFCalibration/CalibTOFapi.h"
 #include "TStopwatch.h"
 #include "Framework/ConfigParamRegistry.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 #include <memory> // for make_shared, make_unique, unique_ptr
 #include <vector>
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ class TOFDPLClustererTask
     auto digits = pc.inputs().get<gsl::span<o2::tof::Digit>>("tofdigits");
     auto row = pc.inputs().get<gsl::span<o2::tof::ReadoutWindowData>>("readoutwin");
 
-    const auto* dh = o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true).header);
+    const auto* dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true));
     mClusterer.setFirstOrbit(dh->firstTForbit);
 
     auto labelvector = std::make_shared<std::vector<o2::dataformats::MCTruthContainer<o2::MCCompLabel>>>();
diff --git a/Detectors/TPC/workflow/src/ZSSpec.cxx b/Detectors/TPC/workflow/src/ZSSpec.cxx
index ef8fb660f0135..1290a2b7b612b 100644
--- a/Detectors/TPC/workflow/src/ZSSpec.cxx
+++ b/Detectors/TPC/workflow/src/ZSSpec.cxx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "Framework/ControlService.h"
 #include "Framework/ConfigParamRegistry.h"
 #include "Framework/InputRecordWalker.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "DataFormatsTPC/TPCSectorHeader.h"
 #include "DataFormatsTPC/ZeroSuppression.h"
 #include "DataFormatsTPC/Helpers.h"
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ DataProcessorSpec getZSEncoderSpec(std::vector<int> const& tpcSectors, bool outR
 
       const auto& inputs = getWorkflowTPCInput(pc, 0, false, false, tpcSectorMask, true);
       sizes.resize(NSectors * NEndpoints);
-      const auto* dh = o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true).header);
+      const auto* dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<o2::header::DataHeader*>(pc.inputs().getFirstValid(true));
       o2::InteractionRecord ir{0, dh->firstTForbit};
       o2::gpu::GPUReconstructionConvert::RunZSEncoder<o2::tpc::Digit, DigitArray>(inputs->inputDigits, &zsoutput, sizes.data(), nullptr, &ir, _GPUParam, true, verify, config.configReconstruction.tpc.zsThreshold);
       ZeroSuppressedContainer8kb* page = reinterpret_cast<ZeroSuppressedContainer8kb*>(zsoutput.get());
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/InputRecord.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/InputRecord.h
index c26621817e23b..62a0d19fccfac 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/InputRecord.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/InputRecord.h
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ class InputRecord
       // the buffer to be deleted when it goes out of scope. The string is built
       // from the data and its lengh, null-termination is not necessary.
       // return std::string object
-      auto header = header::get<const header::DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+      auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(ref);
       assert(header);
       return std::string(ref.payload, header->payloadSize);
 
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class InputRecord
       // substitution for TableConsumer
       // For the moment this is dummy, as it requires proper support to
       // create the RDataSource from the arrow buffer.
-      auto header = header::get<const header::DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+      auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(ref);
       assert(header);
       auto data = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t const*>(ref.payload);
       return std::make_unique<TableConsumer>(data, header->payloadSize);
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ class InputRecord
       // We have to deserialize the ostringstream.
       // FIXME: check that the string is null terminated.
       // @return deserialized copy of payload
-      auto header = header::get<const header::DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+      auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(ref);
       assert(header);
       auto str = std::string(ref.payload, header->payloadSize);
       assert(header->payloadSize == sizeof(T));
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ class InputRecord
       // substitution for span of messageable objects
       // FIXME: there will be std::span in C++20
       static_assert(is_messageable<typename T::value_type>::value, "span can only be created for messageable types");
-      auto header = header::get<const header::DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+      auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(ref);
       assert(header);
       if (sizeof(typename T::value_type) > 1 && header->payloadSerializationMethod != o2::header::gSerializationMethodNone) {
         throw runtime_error("Inconsistent serialization method for extracting span");
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ class InputRecord
     } else if constexpr (is_container<T>::value) {
       // currently implemented only for vectors
       if constexpr (is_specialization<typename std::remove_const<T>::type, std::vector>::value) {
-        auto header = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+        auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(ref);
         auto method = header->payloadSerializationMethod;
         if (method == o2::header::gSerializationMethodNone) {
           // TODO: construct a vector spectator
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ class InputRecord
       // unserialized objects
       using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
 
-      auto header = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+      auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(ref);
       auto method = header->payloadSerializationMethod;
       if (method != o2::header::gSerializationMethodNone) {
         // FIXME: we could in principle support serialized content here as well if we
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ class InputRecord
       using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
       using ValueT = typename std::remove_pointer<T>::type;
 
-      auto header = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+      auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(ref);
       auto method = header->payloadSerializationMethod;
       if (method == o2::header::gSerializationMethodNone) {
         if constexpr (is_messageable<ValueT>::value) {
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ class InputRecord
       // the operation depends on the transmitted serialization method
       using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
 
-      auto header = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+      auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(ref);
       auto method = header->payloadSerializationMethod;
       if (method == o2::header::gSerializationMethodNone) {
         // this code path is only selected if the type is non-messageable
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ class InputRecord
   T get_boost(char const* binding) const
   {
     DataRef ref = get<DataRef>(binding);
-    auto header = header::get<const header::DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+    auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(ref);
     assert(header);
     auto str = std::string(ref.payload, header->payloadSize);
     auto desData = o2::utils::BoostDeserialize<T>(str);
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/test_CCDBFetcher.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/test_CCDBFetcher.cxx
index b29d9bfd29aa2..51c7ca1a1aec8 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/test_CCDBFetcher.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/test_CCDBFetcher.cxx
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
       AlgorithmSpec{
         adaptStateless([](DataAllocator& outputs, InputRecord& inputs, ControlService& control) {
           DataRef condition = inputs.get("somecondition");
-          auto* header = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(condition.header);
-          if (header->payloadSize != 2048) {
-            LOGP(ERROR, "Wrong size for condition payload (expected {}, found {}", 2048, header->payloadSize);
+          auto payloadSize = DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(condition);
+          if (payloadSize != 2048) {
+            LOGP(ERROR, "Wrong size for condition payload (expected {}, found {}", 2048, payloadSize);
           }
-          header->payloadSize;
+          payloadSize;
           control.readyToQuit(QuitRequest::All);
         })},
       Options{
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/test_DataAllocator.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/test_DataAllocator.cxx
index c70bbf45c6005..1b68cbc852813 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/test_DataAllocator.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/test_DataAllocator.cxx
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "Framework/SerializationMethods.h"
 #include "Framework/OutputRoute.h"
 #include "Framework/ConcreteDataMatcher.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "TestClasses.h"
 #include "Framework/Logger.h"
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ DataProcessorSpec getSinkSpec()
       if (iit.isValid() == false) {
         continue;
       }
-      auto* dh = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(input.header);
+      auto* dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<const DataHeader*>(input);
       LOG(INFO) << "{" << dh->dataOrigin.str << ":" << dh->dataDescription.str << ":" << dh->subSpecification << "}"
                 << " payload size " << dh->payloadSize;
 
@@ -322,7 +323,7 @@ DataProcessorSpec getSinkSpec()
     auto pmrspan = pc.inputs().get<gsl::span<o2::test::TriviallyCopyable>>("inputPMR");
     ASSERT_ERROR((pmrspan[0] == o2::test::TriviallyCopyable{1, 2, 3}));
     auto dataref = pc.inputs().get<DataRef>("inputPMR");
-    auto header = o2::header::get<const o2::header::DataHeader*>(dataref.header);
+    auto header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<const o2::header::DataHeader*>(dataref);
     ASSERT_ERROR((header->payloadSize == sizeof(o2::test::TriviallyCopyable)));
 
     LOG(INFO) << "extracting POD vector";
@@ -371,7 +372,7 @@ DataProcessorSpec getSpectatorSinkSpec()
       if (iit.isValid() == false) {
         continue;
       }
-      auto* dh = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(input.header);
+      auto* dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<const DataHeader*>(input);
       LOG(INFO) << "{" << dh->dataOrigin.str << ":" << dh->dataDescription.str << ":" << dh->subSpecification << "}"
                 << " payload size " << dh->payloadSize;
 
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/test_Parallel.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/test_Parallel.cxx
index 63a9220382715..7017049064e64 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/test_Parallel.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/test_Parallel.cxx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "Framework/ControlService.h"
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/DataSpecUtils.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/ParallelContext.h"
 #include "Framework/runDataProcessing.h"
 
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ std::vector<DataProcessorSpec> defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
 
     LOG(DEBUG) << "DataSampler sends data from subSpec: " << matcher.subSpec;
 
-    const auto* inputHeader = o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(input.header);
+    const auto* inputHeader = DataRefUtils::getHeader<o2::header::DataHeader*>(input);
     auto& output = ctx.outputs().make<char>(description, inputHeader->size());
 
     //todo: use some std function or adopt(), when it is available for POD data
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/test_SimpleRDataFrameProcessing.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/test_SimpleRDataFrameProcessing.cxx
index fdf4daddcfb6a..5c61f3b4a86a3 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/test_SimpleRDataFrameProcessing.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/test_SimpleRDataFrameProcessing.cxx
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <memory>
 
 using namespace o2::framework;
-using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
 
 /// Example of how to use ROOT::RDataFrame using DPL.
 WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/test_SimpleWildcard02.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/test_SimpleWildcard02.cxx
index 06eb49aecc6a4..47d255bb2933b 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/test_SimpleWildcard02.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/test_SimpleWildcard02.cxx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "Framework/ControlService.h"
 #include "Framework/EndOfStreamContext.h"
 #include "Framework/Logger.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include <iostream>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <memory>
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
                }
                for (size_t i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
                  auto ref = inputs.getByPos(0, i);
-                 auto dh = o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+                 auto dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<o2::header::DataHeader*>(ref);
                  LOG(INFO) << "String is " << s->GetString().Data() << " " << dh->subSpecification;
                }
              }); })}}};
diff --git a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2DummyWorkflow.cxx b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2DummyWorkflow.cxx
index dcf681d6b2afe..3dfcd95239e7c 100644
--- a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2DummyWorkflow.cxx
+++ b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2DummyWorkflow.cxx
@@ -106,9 +106,9 @@ std::vector<DataProcessorSpec> defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
     AlgorithmSpec{
       [](ProcessingContext& ctx) {
         // We verify we got inputs in the correct order
-        auto h0 = o2::header::get<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("clusters").header);
-        auto h1 = o2::header::get<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("summary").header);
-        auto h2 = o2::header::get<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("other_summary").header);
+        auto h0 = DataRefUtils::getHeader<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("clusters"));
+        auto h1 = DataRefUtils::getHeader<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("summary"));
+        auto h2 = DataRefUtils::getHeader<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("other_summary"));
         // This should always be the case, since the
         // test for an actual DataHeader should happen in the device itself.
         assert(h0 && h1 && h2);
diff --git a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2_sim_its_ALP3.cxx b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2_sim_its_ALP3.cxx
index 58e67b5779ece..70c67dce74355 100644
--- a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2_sim_its_ALP3.cxx
+++ b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2_sim_its_ALP3.cxx
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@
 
 using namespace o2::framework;
 
-using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
-
 double radii2Turbo(double rMin, double rMid, double rMax, double sensW)
 {
   // compute turbo angle from radii and sensor width
diff --git a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2_sim_tpc.cxx b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2_sim_tpc.cxx
index bb7aa6262f59d..f9265615a6c31 100644
--- a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2_sim_tpc.cxx
+++ b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/o2_sim_tpc.cxx
@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@
 
 using namespace o2::framework;
 
-using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
-
 #define BOX_GENERATOR 1
 
 namespace o2
diff --git a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_CCDBFetchToTimeframe.cxx b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_CCDBFetchToTimeframe.cxx
index 1cfd38a24ff2a..426de87ce3381 100644
--- a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_CCDBFetchToTimeframe.cxx
+++ b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_CCDBFetchToTimeframe.cxx
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@
 #include "Framework/Logger.h"
 #include "Framework/ControlService.h"
 #include "Framework/CCDBParamSpec.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 #include <chrono>
 #include <thread>
 
 using namespace o2::framework;
-using namespace o2::header;
 
 // Set a start value which might correspond to a real timestamp of an object in CCDB, for example:
 // o2-testworkflows-ccdb-fetch-to-timeframe --condition-backend http://ccdb-test.cern.ch:8080 --start-value-enumeration 1575985965925000
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
       AlgorithmSpec{
         adaptStateless([](DataAllocator& outputs, InputRecord& inputs, ControlService& control) {
           DataRef condition = inputs.get("somecondition");
-          auto* header = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(condition.header);
-          if (header->payloadSize != 2048) {
-            LOGP(ERROR, "Wrong size for condition payload (expected {}, found {})", 2048, header->payloadSize);
+          auto payloadSize = DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(condition);
+          if (payloadSize != 2048) {
+            LOGP(ERROR, "Wrong size for condition payload (expected {}, found {})", 2048, payloadSize);
           }
           control.readyToQuit(QuitRequest::All);
         })},
diff --git a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_CCDBFetcher.cxx b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_CCDBFetcher.cxx
index 817b901dfa9cd..b289608778659 100644
--- a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_CCDBFetcher.cxx
+++ b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_CCDBFetcher.cxx
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@
 #include "Framework/ServiceRegistry.h"
 #include "Framework/ControlService.h"
 #include "Framework/CCDBParamSpec.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "DataFormatsTOF/CalibLHCphaseTOF.h"
 
 #include <chrono>
 #include <thread>
 
 using namespace o2::framework;
-using namespace o2::header;
 
 // This is how you can define your processing in a declarative way
 WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
       AlgorithmSpec{
         adaptStateless([](DataAllocator& outputs, InputRecord& inputs, ControlService& control) {
           auto ref = inputs.get("somecondition");
-          auto header = o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(ref.header);
-          if (header->payloadSize != 2048) {
-            LOGP(ERROR, "Wrong size for condition payload (expected {}, found {}", 2048, header->payloadSize);
+          auto payloadSize = DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(ref);
+          if (payloadSize != 2048) {
+            LOGP(ERROR, "Wrong size for condition payload (expected {}, found {}", 2048, payloadSize);
           }
           auto condition = inputs.get<o2::dataformats::CalibLHCphaseTOF*>("somecondition");
           for (size_t pi = 0; pi < condition->size(); pi++) {
diff --git a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_RawDeviceInjector.cxx b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_RawDeviceInjector.cxx
index 9247d6a2555c5..f1c154df9a7a1 100644
--- a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_RawDeviceInjector.cxx
+++ b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_RawDeviceInjector.cxx
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 
 using namespace o2::framework;
 
-using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
 using DataOrigin = o2::header::DataOrigin;
 
 // A simple workflow which takes heartbeats from
diff --git a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_o2ITSCluserizer.cxx b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_o2ITSCluserizer.cxx
index 7ef971367eeb8..d6d3cb1242f7c 100644
--- a/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_o2ITSCluserizer.cxx
+++ b/Framework/TestWorkflows/src/test_o2ITSCluserizer.cxx
@@ -23,10 +23,6 @@
 using namespace o2::framework;
 using namespace o2::workflows;
 
-using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
-using DataOrigin = o2::header::DataOrigin;
-using DataDescription = o2::header::DataDescription;
-
 // This is how you can define your processing in a declarative way
 WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
 {
diff --git a/Framework/Utils/include/DPLUtils/DPLRawPageSequencer.h b/Framework/Utils/include/DPLUtils/DPLRawPageSequencer.h
index ee1302810249d..1b36cac62e75c 100644
--- a/Framework/Utils/include/DPLUtils/DPLRawPageSequencer.h
+++ b/Framework/Utils/include/DPLUtils/DPLRawPageSequencer.h
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 #include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/Logger.h"
 #include "Framework/InputRecordWalker.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include <utility> // std::declval
 
 namespace o2::framework
diff --git a/Framework/Utils/src/DPLBroadcaster.cxx b/Framework/Utils/src/DPLBroadcaster.cxx
index 38aa12905fdfc..4ea5e5747cd42 100644
--- a/Framework/Utils/src/DPLBroadcaster.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Utils/src/DPLBroadcaster.cxx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "DPLUtils/Utils.h"
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/DataProcessingHeader.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 
 namespace o2f = o2::framework;
@@ -69,8 +70,8 @@ o2f::DataProcessorSpec defineBroadcaster(std::string devName, o2f::InputSpec usr
 o2f::DataProcessorSpec defineBroadcaster(std::string devName, o2f::InputSpec usrInput, o2f::Outputs usrOutputs)
 {
   // This lambda retrieves the message size using the API
-  auto funcSize = [](o2f::DataRef d) -> size_t {
-    return (o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(d.header))->payloadSize;
+  auto funcSize = [](o2f::DataRef ref) -> size_t {
+    return o2::framework::DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(ref);
   };
   // Callling complete implementation
   return defineBroadcaster(devName, usrInput, usrOutputs, funcSize);
diff --git a/Framework/Utils/src/DPLGatherer.cxx b/Framework/Utils/src/DPLGatherer.cxx
index 4205b33226090..039e6720980d1 100644
--- a/Framework/Utils/src/DPLGatherer.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Utils/src/DPLGatherer.cxx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "DPLUtils/Utils.h"
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace o2f = o2::framework;
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ o2f::DataProcessorSpec defineGatherer(std::string devName, o2f::Inputs usrInputs
               // Iterating over the Inputs to forward them on the same Output
               for (const auto& itInputs : ctx.inputs()) {
                 // Retrieving message size from API
-                auto msgSize = (o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(itInputs.header))->payloadSize;
+                auto msgSize = o2::framework::DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(itInputs);
                 // Allocating new chunk
                 auto& fwdMsg = ctx.outputs().newChunk((*outputPtr), msgSize);
                 // Moving the input to the output chunk
diff --git a/Framework/Utils/src/DPLMerger.cxx b/Framework/Utils/src/DPLMerger.cxx
index f5cbb0de5f38c..6f91df32a4cca 100644
--- a/Framework/Utils/src/DPLMerger.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Utils/src/DPLMerger.cxx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "DPLUtils/Utils.h"
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace o2f = o2::framework;
@@ -56,10 +57,10 @@ o2f::DataProcessorSpec defineMerger(std::string devName, o2f::Inputs usrInputs,
 o2f::DataProcessorSpec defineMerger(std::string devName, o2f::Inputs usrInputs, o2f::OutputSpec usrOutput)
 {
   // This lambda retrieves the payload size through the API and back-inserts it on the output buffer
-  auto funcMerge = [](OutputBuffer& buf, const o2f::DataRef d) {
-    auto msgSize = (o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(d.header))->payloadSize;
+  auto funcMerge = [](OutputBuffer& buf, const o2f::DataRef ref) {
+    auto msgSize = o2::framework::DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(ref);
     buf.resize(buf.size() + msgSize);
-    std::copy(&(d.payload[0]), &(d.payload[msgSize - 1]), std::back_inserter(buf));
+    std::copy(&(ref.payload[0]), &(ref.payload[msgSize - 1]), std::back_inserter(buf));
   };
   // Callling complete implementation
   return defineMerger(devName, usrInputs, usrOutput, funcMerge);
diff --git a/Framework/Utils/src/DPLRouter.cxx b/Framework/Utils/src/DPLRouter.cxx
index a79d016aee46f..7795cb37d4ea0 100644
--- a/Framework/Utils/src/DPLRouter.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Utils/src/DPLRouter.cxx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "DPLUtils/Utils.h"
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace o2f = o2::framework;
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ o2f::DataProcessorSpec defineRouter(std::string devName, o2f::Inputs usrInput, o
             // Defining the ProcessCallback as returned object of InitCallback
             return [outputsPtr, mappingFuncPtr](o2f::ProcessingContext& ctx) {
               auto inputMsg = ctx.inputs().getByPos(0);
-              auto msgSize = (o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(inputMsg.header))->payloadSize;
+              auto msgSize = o2::framework::DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(inputMsg);
               auto& outputCh = (*outputsPtr)[(*mappingFuncPtr)(inputMsg)];
 
               auto& fwdMsg = ctx.outputs().newChunk(outputCh, msgSize);
diff --git a/Framework/Utils/test/DPLBroadcasterMerger.cxx b/Framework/Utils/test/DPLBroadcasterMerger.cxx
index 8bb8a6ea3c030..2535e1a052d90 100644
--- a/Framework/Utils/test/DPLBroadcasterMerger.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Utils/test/DPLBroadcasterMerger.cxx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "DPLUtils/Utils.h"
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/ControlService.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "random"
 #include "Framework/Logger.h"
 #include <thread>
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ o2f::DataProcessorSpec definePipeline(std::string devName, o2f::InputSpec usrInp
             // Processing context in captured from return on InitCallback
             return [output_sharedptr](o2f::ProcessingContext& ctx) {
               auto inputMsg = ctx.inputs().getByPos(0);
-              auto msgSize = (o2::header::get<o2::header::DataHeader*>(inputMsg.header))->payloadSize;
+              auto msgSize = o2::framework::DataRefUtils::getPayloadSize(inputMsg);
 
               auto& fwdMsg = ctx.outputs().newChunk((*output_sharedptr), msgSize);
               std::memcpy(fwdMsg.data(), inputMsg.payload, msgSize);
diff --git a/Framework/Utils/test/test_RootTreeReader.cxx b/Framework/Utils/test/test_RootTreeReader.cxx
index 843caae55bd46..e723ba641f931 100644
--- a/Framework/Utils/test/test_RootTreeReader.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Utils/test/test_RootTreeReader.cxx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "Framework/InputSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/OutputSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/ControlService.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "DPLUtils/RootTreeReader.h"
 #include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "Headers/NameHeader.h"
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ DataProcessorSpec getSinkSpec()
     static int counter = 0;
     using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
     for (auto& input : pc.inputs()) {
-      auto dh = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(input.header);
+      auto dh = DataRefUtils::getHeader<const DataHeader*>(input);
       LOG(INFO) << dh->dataOrigin.str << " " << dh->dataDescription.str << " " << dh->payloadSize;
     }
     auto data = pc.inputs().get<std::vector<o2::test::Polymorphic>>("input1");
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/CPVDigitizerSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/CPVDigitizerSpec.cxx
index 14462cbbd4e57..49745e3745173 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/CPVDigitizerSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/CPVDigitizerSpec.cxx
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "TStopwatch.h"
 #include "Steer/HitProcessingManager.h" // for DigitizationContext
 #include "TChain.h"
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/GRPUpdaterSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/GRPUpdaterSpec.cxx
index 283592b5c870d..edd7dbc47c98a 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/GRPUpdaterSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/GRPUpdaterSpec.cxx
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 #include "Framework/Task.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
 #include "DataFormatsParameters/GRPObject.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include <TFile.h>
 #include <FairLogger.h>
 #include <memory> // for make_shared, make_unique, unique_ptr
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ITS3DigitizerSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ITS3DigitizerSpec.cxx
index d4c63da6e1b43..29c5b7f4169de 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ITS3DigitizerSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ITS3DigitizerSpec.cxx
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
 #include "Framework/Task.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "Steer/HitProcessingManager.h" // for DigitizationContext
 #include "DataFormatsITSMFT/Digit.h"
 #include "SimulationDataFormat/ConstMCTruthContainer.h"
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ITSMFTDigitizerSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ITSMFTDigitizerSpec.cxx
index 625a24f34287f..d84f73d400991 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ITSMFTDigitizerSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ITSMFTDigitizerSpec.cxx
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
 #include "Framework/Task.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "Steer/HitProcessingManager.h" // for DigitizationContext
 #include "DataFormatsITSMFT/Digit.h"
 #include "SimulationDataFormat/ConstMCTruthContainer.h"
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/MCHDigitizerSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/MCHDigitizerSpec.cxx
index 8674a4f66bce3..739f993290753 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/MCHDigitizerSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/MCHDigitizerSpec.cxx
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 #include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
 #include "Framework/Task.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "MCHSimulation/Detector.h"
 #include "MCHSimulation/Digitizer.h"
 #include "MCHSimulation/DigitizerParam.h"
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/MIDDigitizerSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/MIDDigitizerSpec.cxx
index eebab21d59fad..b4f5c184a503f 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/MIDDigitizerSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/MIDDigitizerSpec.cxx
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 #include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
 #include "Framework/Task.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "Steer/HitProcessingManager.h" // for DigitizationContext
 #include "DetectorsBase/BaseDPLDigitizer.h"
 #include "SimulationDataFormat/MCTruthContainer.h"
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/PHOSDigitizerSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/PHOSDigitizerSpec.cxx
index 00543d52b28ce..9f571929d1f92 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/PHOSDigitizerSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/PHOSDigitizerSpec.cxx
@@ -15,11 +15,9 @@
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "TStopwatch.h"
 #include "Steer/HitProcessingManager.h" // for DigitizationContext
 #include "TChain.h"
-
 #include "CommonDataFormat/EvIndex.h"
 #include "DataFormatsPHOS/TriggerRecord.h"
 #include "PHOSSimulation/Digitizer.h"
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/SimReaderSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/SimReaderSpec.cxx
index dfa82b8a3b8b2..c1c8c7e991add 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/SimReaderSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/SimReaderSpec.cxx
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "Framework/ControlService.h"
 #include "Framework/ConfigParamRegistry.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "Steer/HitProcessingManager.h"
 #include "Steer/InteractionSampler.h"
 #include "CommonDataFormat/InteractionRecord.h"
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/TOFDigitizerSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/TOFDigitizerSpec.cxx
index 2cc344fd9cab7..086a4e7a91ea7 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/TOFDigitizerSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/TOFDigitizerSpec.cxx
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
 #include "Framework/Task.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "TStopwatch.h"
 #include "Steer/HitProcessingManager.h" // for DigitizationContext
 #include "TChain.h"
diff --git a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ZDCDigitizerSpec.cxx b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ZDCDigitizerSpec.cxx
index eb98e4f64c174..ed22206a9c423 100644
--- a/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ZDCDigitizerSpec.cxx
+++ b/Steer/DigitizerWorkflow/src/ZDCDigitizerSpec.cxx
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 #include "Framework/DataProcessorSpec.h"
 #include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/Lifetime.h"
-#include "Headers/DataHeader.h"
 #include "TStopwatch.h"
 #include "Steer/HitProcessingManager.h" // for DigitizationContext
 #include "TChain.h"
diff --git a/Utilities/DataSampling/src/Dispatcher.cxx b/Utilities/DataSampling/src/Dispatcher.cxx
index 710bd9faa8c84..d143419671fd3 100644
--- a/Utilities/DataSampling/src/Dispatcher.cxx
+++ b/Utilities/DataSampling/src/Dispatcher.cxx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "Framework/ConfigParamRegistry.h"
 #include "Framework/InputRecordWalker.h"
 #include "Framework/Monitoring.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 #include <Configuration/ConfigurationInterface.h>
 #include <Configuration/ConfigurationFactory.h>
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ void Dispatcher::run(ProcessingContext& ctx)
     if (firstPart.header == nullptr) {
       continue;
     }
-    const auto* firstInputHeader = header::get<header::DataHeader*>(firstPart.header);
+    const auto* firstInputHeader = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(firstPart);
     ConcreteDataMatcher inputMatcher{firstInputHeader->dataOrigin, firstInputHeader->dataDescription, firstInputHeader->subSpecification};
 
     for (auto& policy : mPolicies) {
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ void Dispatcher::run(ProcessingContext& ctx)
             header::Stack headerStack{
               std::move(extractAdditionalHeaders(part.header)),
               dsheader};
-            const auto* partInputHeader = header::get<header::DataHeader*>(part.header);
+            const auto* partInputHeader = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(part);
 
             Output output{
               routeAsConcreteDataType.origin,
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ header::Stack Dispatcher::extractAdditionalHeaders(const char* inputHeaderStack)
 
 void Dispatcher::send(DataAllocator& dataAllocator, const DataRef& inputData, const Output& output) const
 {
-  const auto* inputHeader = header::get<header::DataHeader*>(inputData.header);
+  const auto* inputHeader = DataRefUtils::getHeader<header::DataHeader*>(inputData);
   dataAllocator.snapshot(output, inputData.payload, inputHeader->payloadSize, inputHeader->payloadSerializationMethod);
 }
 
diff --git a/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingParallel.cxx b/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingParallel.cxx
index 9969800a3c487..496697219e17a 100644
--- a/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingParallel.cxx
+++ b/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingParallel.cxx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ void customize(std::vector<ChannelConfigurationPolicy>& policies)
 #include "Framework/DataSpecUtils.h"
 #include "Framework/ParallelContext.h"
 #include "Framework/runDataProcessing.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 #include <chrono>
 #include <iostream>
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
         auto inputDataTpcProcessed = reinterpret_cast<const FakeCluster*>(ctx.inputs().get(
           "TPC_CLUSTERS_P_S").payload);
 
-        const auto* header = o2::header::get<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("TPC_CLUSTERS_S").header);
+        const auto* header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("TPC_CLUSTERS_S"));
 
         bool dataGood = true;
         for (int j = 0; j < header->payloadSize / sizeof(FakeCluster); ++j) {
diff --git a/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingPodAndRoot.cxx b/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingPodAndRoot.cxx
index 94a0ae0e5010a..34df12c60072d 100644
--- a/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingPodAndRoot.cxx
+++ b/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingPodAndRoot.cxx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ void customize(std::vector<ChannelConfigurationPolicy>& policies)
 #include "Framework/TMessageSerializer.h"
 #include "DataSampling/DataSamplingHeader.h"
 #include "Framework/Logger.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 #include <TClonesArray.h>
 #include <TObjString.h>
 #include <TH1F.h>
@@ -98,8 +99,8 @@ WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
         auto inputDataTpcProcessed = reinterpret_cast<const FakeCluster*>(ctx.inputs().get(
           "TPC_CLUSTERS_P_S").payload);
 
-        const auto* header = ctx.inputs().get("TPC_CLUSTERS_S").header;
-        const auto* dataHeader = o2::header::get<DataHeader*>(header);
+        auto ref = ctx.inputs().get("TPC_CLUSTERS_S");
+        const auto* dataHeader = DataRefUtils::getHeader<DataHeader*>(ref);
 
         bool dataGood = true;
         for (int j = 0; j < dataHeader->payloadSize / sizeof(FakeCluster); ++j) {
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
 
         LOG(INFO) << "qcTaskTPC - received data is " << (dataGood ? "correct" : "wrong");
 
-        const auto* dsHeader = o2::header::get<DataSamplingHeader*>(header);
+        const auto* dsHeader = DataRefUtils::getHeader<DataSamplingHeader*>(ref);
         if (dsHeader) {
           LOG(INFO) << "Matching messages seen by Dispatcher: " << dsHeader->totalEvaluatedMessages
                     << ", accepted: " << dsHeader->totalAcceptedMessages
diff --git a/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingTimePipeline.cxx b/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingTimePipeline.cxx
index 4cdd17aa2310b..ec5c9075cde44 100644
--- a/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingTimePipeline.cxx
+++ b/Utilities/DataSampling/test/dataSamplingTimePipeline.cxx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 // or submit itself to any jurisdiction.
 
 #include "DataSampling/DataSampling.h"
+#include "Framework/DataRefUtils.h"
 
 #include <thread>
 
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ WorkflowSpec defineDataProcessing(ConfigContext const&)
         auto inputDataTpcProcessed = reinterpret_cast<const FakeCluster*>(ctx.inputs().get(
           "TPC_CLUSTERS_P_S").payload);
 
-        const auto* header = o2::header::get<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("TPC_CLUSTERS_S").header);
+        const auto* header = DataRefUtils::getHeader<DataHeader*>(ctx.inputs().get("TPC_CLUSTERS_S"));
 
         bool dataGood = true;
         for (int j = 0; j < header->payloadSize / sizeof(FakeCluster); ++j) {
diff --git a/Utilities/Mergers/src/ObjectStore.cxx b/Utilities/Mergers/src/ObjectStore.cxx
index 43bc400a0387e..82645a8586487 100644
--- a/Utilities/Mergers/src/ObjectStore.cxx
+++ b/Utilities/Mergers/src/ObjectStore.cxx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ ObjectStore extractObjectFrom(const framework::DataRef& ref)
   const static std::string errorPrefix = "Could not extract object to be merged: ";
 
   using DataHeader = o2::header::DataHeader;
-  auto header = o2::header::get<const DataHeader*>(ref.header);
+  auto header = framework::DataRefUtils::getHeader<const DataHeader*>(ref);
   if (header->payloadSerializationMethod != o2::header::gSerializationMethodROOT) {
     throw std::runtime_error(errorPrefix + "It is not ROOT-serialized");
   }
@@ -79,4 +79,4 @@ ObjectStore extractObjectFrom(const framework::DataRef& ref)
 
 } // namespace object_store_helpers
 
-} // namespace o2::mergers
\ No newline at end of file
+} // namespace o2::mergers