| Whenever working conditions include low light or | | | | background color, such as lime green, yellow, |
| nighttime conditions, the loss of visibility amplifies | | | | orange, or red, and then have retro-reflective |
| hazard potentials, making injuries more likely to | | | | bands attached. |
| occur and cause injury. When considering night | | | | Overall, increased worker visibility will prevent |
| work for road construction crews, the low light | | | | accidents that can occur from motor vehicles that |
| conditions mixed with motor vehicle traffic | | | | pass near or through active work sites. In |
| creates a potentially lethal hazard. Keeping | | | | addition, they will also help reduce hazards on the |
| workers visible to motorists is absolutely essential | | | | work site itself by making workers more easily |
| when creating a safe work environment. | | | | seen by construction vehicle operators. Even |
| Some crews might think that wearing lightly or | | | | during the day, low light conditions can persist due |
| brightly colored industrial clothing is enough to | | | | to dust or dirt clouds, as well as overcast |
| keep workers visible to oncoming traffic. | | | | weather. |
| However, a worker wearing bright clothing can be | | | | ANSI Classes |
| seen from about 250 feet away, which is less | | | | The first level of protection, Class 1, is used when |
| distance than a football field. Vehicles driving at | | | | workers are well separated from traffic and |
| about 25 mph need a total of 600 feet to come | | | | passing motorists. Traffic that is present on the |
| to a complete stop. Currently, at highway speeds, | | | | job site has to be traveling under 25 mph. As |
| vehicles need about 1,200 feet of stopping | | | | such, it is not acceptable for roadway crews. |
| distance, and trucks and semis need much more | | | | However, it does form the basis from which all of |
| room than that. | | | | the higher classes build upon. Specifically, Class 1 |
| Clearly, this situation is a great hazard that | | | | consists of a high visibility vest with a |
| requires a solution. Roadside construction crews | | | | retro-reflective band at least two inches wide |
| will face this hazard on an almost daily basis since | | | | across the chest in addition to reflective industrial |
| much of the roadway work is done on active | | | | products worn on the head or affixed to a |
| routes. | | | | hardhat. This class is appropriate for people |
| High Visibility Industrial Clothing | | | | working in jobs such as parking lot attendants, |
| The solution to visibility issues on construction | | | | warehouse workers, delivery vehicle drivers, |
| sites is retro-reflective materials. Typically, when a | | | | shopping cart retrievers, and roadside and |
| beam of light, for example from a set of | | | | sidewalk maintenance workers. |
| headlights, hits a worker, the light energy is | | | | Class 2 is allowable for work sites that are near |
| scattered away in every direction. Retro-reflective | | | | vehicular traffic between 25 mph and 50 mph. |
| materials instead concentrate the light energy and | | | | This is appropriate for most roadway work, but is |
| reflect it directly back to its source. This material | | | | quite insufficient on high-speed interstates. Class 2 |
| is able to actually increase a worker's visibility | | | | adds full sleeves and an additional reflective band |
| dramatically in ways that regular industrial clothing | | | | at the waist to provide a better outline for the |
| cannot. | | | | human shape. This enhanced class provides the |
| The Federal Highway Worker Visibility Rule has | | | | proper protection level for some roadway |
| been written into law with these concerns in mind | | | | construction and utility workers, survey crews, |
| to ensure road crew safety. While the law | | | | law enforcement personnel, school crossing |
| specifically applies to federally funded job sites, | | | | guards, high-volume parking lot or toll-gate |
| the guidelines established are industry best | | | | personnel, airport baggage handlers and ground |
| practices to keep workers and work sites safe. | | | | crews, railway workers, emergency response |
| The law uses ANSI standards for determining | | | | personnel, and accident site investigators. |
| what industrial products are sufficient for overall | | | | Finally, Class 3 provides visibility up to 1,280 feet, |
| worker safety. | | | | nearly a quarter mile, for workers, making them |
| Let us examine the three ANSI classes and how | | | | safe for work sites near highway speed traffic. In |
| they apply to road construction safety. | | | | addition to Class 2 requirements, Class 3 adds |
| ANSI Definitions And Benefits | | | | trousers or coveralls that will complete the outline |
| In order to meet the standards, retro-reflective | | | | of the human form with retro-reflective bands at |
| materials must be incorporated into personal | | | | the waistline and ankles |
| protective equipment and industrial products. In | | | | When it comes to road construction safety, high |
| addition, industrial clothing with retro-reflective | | | | visibility industrial products and industrial clothing |
| bands affixed to them is not sufficient to meet | | | | offer the best protection and compliance with |
| the guideline. PPE must have a fluorescent | | | | federal law and industry best practices. |