| Construction sites around the world all have a | | | | outfit that does not include retro-reflective bands |
| unique safety hazard. Visibility on roadways during | | | | or threads does not qualify for the standard, so |
| twilight and night time hours is a safety hazard | | | | wearing a neon orange shirt is not enough |
| that cannot be reliably engineered out with | | | | protection. The proper clothing for a class 1 high |
| improved lighting. Visibility at night time for | | | | visibility suit is a vest with the proper reflective |
| motorists is extremely limited when it comes to | | | | material and a reflective band two inches wide |
| spotting pedestrians or workers on the side of | | | | that circles the torso and shoulders in addition to |
| the road. For example, wearing dark clothing limits | | | | reflective strips on the headwear worn. This is the |
| the visibility of a person to 100 feet at night. | | | | minimum level of protection on lower risk job |
| Lightly or brightly colored clothing only increases | | | | sites. Class 1 is a good choice for daytime |
| that distance to 250 feet. The total stopping | | | | applications in combination with fluorescent colored |
| distance for a vehicle, including driver reaction | | | | clothing. |
| time, is about 600 feet when traveling at 30 mph | | | | Class 2 adds full sleeves and an additional |
| and 1200 feet when traveling at highway speeds | | | | reflective band at the waist to provide a better |
| of 60 mph. Clearly, special personal protective | | | | outline for the human shape. This class is |
| equipment is necessary for outdoor work. | | | | appropriate for low-light conditions such as twilight |
| Industrial clothing designed to offer high visibility | | | | and early evening, construction sites at night with |
| for workers is utilized to create a safer | | | | flood lighting, and low-light work sites. The highest |
| construction site environment. The same types of | | | | class, class 3, includes trousers or coveralls that |
| industrial clothing are also used for utility workers, | | | | additionally outline the waistline and ankles and is |
| police forces, emergency medical services, fire | | | | appropriate in the darkest work environments. |
| fighters, and airport workers. High visibility clothing | | | | Class 3 will provide visibility at a minimum distance |
| is also vital to protect workers from on the job | | | | of 1280 feet, leaving enough stopping distance for |
| accidents as well. Workers driving a construction | | | | vehicles traveling at typical highway speeds. |
| vehicle on a work site suffer from the same | | | | Additional High Visibility Guidelines |
| visibility issues as motorists on a highway. That is | | | | The proper fit for any piece of industrial clothing is |
| why high visibility industrial clothing is used on any | | | | as important as its visibility properties. Loose |
| work site during low light hours or any | | | | clothing will result in injury as industrial products |
| environment that cannot be well lit at all times. | | | | with moving parts can snag onto extra material |
| Clothing Visibility Standards | | | | and pull a worker toward an operating machine. |
| Not all high visibility clothing is created equal; | | | | There are hundreds of yearly deaths and |
| merely wearing bright colors is not enough to | | | | thousands of injuries and amputations as a result |
| protect workers. The American National | | | | of baggy clothing on job sites. On the other hand, |
| Standards Institute has put forth requirements | | | | clothing must not be so tight so as to restrict |
| for the proper industrial products that can be | | | | movement in a situation where a worker would |
| classified as high visibility. Following the set | | | | need to avoid an accident or quickly leave the |
| standards will ensure that workers are visible and | | | | area of a recognized hazard. |
| the job site is in compliance. | | | | The color of the apparel worn is also an important |
| The basis for meeting the ANSI standard | | | | factor. The best colors offer a contrast with the |
| 107-2004 that governs high visibility safety | | | | surrounding environment. Using a fluorescent |
| apparel is retro-reflective materials. When light | | | | orange color on a worksite with orange industrial |
| from a light source hits an object, light beams are | | | | products and machinery is not effective. Always |
| scattered in every direction. Retro-reflective | | | | choose a color that will not blend in with anything |
| materials concentrate the reflected light into the | | | | else on the work site. Good choices are |
| same direction that it came from. These materials | | | | fluorescent version of orange, yellow, lime green, |
| increase the visibility distance for clothing | | | | or an intense white or silver. |
| dramatically without using a power source or | | | | Following high visibility industrial clothing standards |
| heavy equipment. | | | | is the best way to protect workers for the |
| Standard 107-2004 has designated three classes | | | | hazards of night and low light work environments. |
| of high visibility outfits for use on the job. Any | | | | |