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High Visibility Clothing
Keep your workers safe by making them more
visible.
What is high visibility clothing
and when do you need it?
 High
visibility clothing refers to reflective and fluorescent vests, shirts,
pants, hats, etc. that workers should wear to make them more visible
when working near traffic and heavy equipment, in all light conditions,
day and night.
You should wear high visibility
clothing if:
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You work near traffic (on the side of a
roadway, as a flagger, directing traffic, etc.).
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You work near moving construction
vehicles and equipment such as large trucks, dump trucks,
pavers, graders, etc.
What type of clothing should you wear?
There are different classes of clothing,
depending upon the hazards you are likely to face.
 Class
1 garments: For workers that are separated from vehicular traffic that
does not exceed 25 miles per hour; where background settings and worker
tasks are not complex.
 Class
2 garments: Necessary for greater visibility during inclement weather;
where work background is more complex and is close to moving traffic and
vehicles; workers’ attention will likely be diverted from traffic
traveling at speeds from 25 to 50 miles per hour.
Class 3 garments: Traffic speed is greater than
50 miles per hour; worker must be conspicuous — and identifiable as a
person — through the full range of body motions at a minimum of 1,280
feet.
Is high visibility clothing hot and
uncomfortable?
 When
the ANSI/ISEA 107 Standard for High Visibility Apparel was first
developed, some of the early designs were hotter than what roadway
construction workers were used to wearing. Over the past few years, new
designs have been developed, made of lightweight, breathable fabrics
that are much cooler and can be comfortably used in hot and humid
weather.
To obtain more information about the ANSI/ISEA
107 standard or to order a copy of High Visibility Apparel, contact the
International Safety Equipment Association at
www.safetyequipment.org.
This material was produced under grant number 46C3-HT31 from the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the
U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names,
commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S.
Government. The developers have not assumed any part of the
employer’s exclusive responsibility to provide a safe and healthful
work place.
Reprinted from Better Roads Magazine
May 2006 |
