Tagged with 'class 2'

FHWA Ruling on ANSI/ISEA Garments for Public Safety Personnel

Nov 14, 2012

FHWA Mandates High-visibility Safety Apparel Meeting ISEA Standards for All Workers in Highway Rights-of-Way, Workzones

The 2009 revision to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), published by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) yesterday, requires workers, including emergency responders, along highway rights-of-way or in workzones to wear high-visibility apparel whenever they are exposed to moving traffic, work vehicles or construction equipment. The apparel must meet Performance Class 2 or 3 requirements of ANSI/ISEA 107-2004, the American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear. This requirement also applies to firefighters, emergency responders and law enforcement personnel working within the right-of-way. As an option, emergency responders and law enforcement personnel may wear garments that meet the standard for high-visibility public safety vests, ANSI/ISEA 207-2006. A separate section of the MUTCD, which covers specific requirements for flaggers, also requires the use of ANSI/ISEA 107-compliant apparel, and specifies that background material must be fluorescent orange-red, fluorescent yellow-green "or a combination of the two as specified in the ANSI standard."

Previously, the FHWA only required workers in federal-aid highway workzones to use these garments.

The revised MUTCD states: "All workers, including emergency responders, within the right-of-way who are exposed to traffic (vehicles using the highway for purposes of travel) or to work vehicles and construction equipment within the [Temporary Traffic Control] zone shall wear high-visibility safety apparel that meets the Performance Class 2 or 3 requirements of the ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 publication entitled ‘American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear’ (see Section 1A.11) or equivalent revisions, and labeled as meeting the ANSI 107-20004 standard performance for Class 2 or 3 risk exposure, except as provided in paragraph 5… Emergency and incident responders and law enforcement personnel within the [Temporary Traffic Control] zone may wear high-visibility safety apparel that meets the performance requirements of the ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 publication entitled ‘American National Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests’ (see Section 1A.11) or equivalent revisions, and labeled as ANSI 207-2006, in lieu of ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 apparel…"

The revised MUTCD takes effect January 15, 2010. Workers on non-federal highways will have to be in compliance with the high-visibility safety apparel requirements by December 31, 2011.

Brilliant Series Class 2 Heavy Duty Vest

Nov 14, 2012

The Brilliant Series vests from ML Kishigo provides maximum visibility. In addition to the high visibility background material and the 2" wide VizLite reflective tape with contrasting color, the vest also utilizes Brilliant Trim reflective edging which considerably improves the vest's low light visibility. The vest is constructed of a durable and breathable 100% polyester mesh and the vest features include a zipper closure, mic tabs on chest, 2-tier pencil pocket, flapped radio pocket, inside patch pockets, outside cargo pockets with adjustable flaps, and reinforced webbing for added strength. The vest is available in both high visibility lime or orange. It's also ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant.

By choosing a vest which is above what is generally necessary, you will ensure the safety of your employees and help to make them as secure in their job as possible. Even an ANSI class 3 surveyors vest can provide you with an abundance of visibility, typically with some additional options that will rate them for breakaway material.

The need for a safety ANSI class 2 vest for their job would include individuals who are working when the weather conditions are poor and visibility may be low. These are also generally preferred for when traffic near the worker will exceed 25 mph. Some of the most popular professions which use these types of vests would include airport ground workers, law enforcement officials, railroad workers and crossing guards.

The Brilliant Series from ML Kishigo

Nov 14, 2012

The Brilliant Series line of high-viz workwear is the premium line for ML Kishigo, and the safety enhancements they provide far outweigh the premium you’ll pay over standard hi-viz. For example, the Brilliant Series Economy Vest is up to 60% brighter than its standard counterpart when viewed at a distance. When comparing their suggested retail prices, that equates to only 3 pennies for every percent of increased visibility. They calculated the remarkable affect by analyzing a 1080i HD video frame at the distance of approximately 30 to 60 feet. By zooming in and mapping out the identical area/proportions for both vests (Brilliant Class 2 vs Standard) they measured the individual visual footprint of each. This is based exclusively upon luminosity of the cars headlights hitting the reflective material.

Luminosity Comparison, Brilliant Series vs Standard

Thoroughly measuring the gray levels pixel by pixel, then taking the average across the entire area of each image, you can see that the Brilliant series has up to 60% more of a visible footprint at night.

When comparing the histogram graphs (left side shows level of black, right shows level of white, with every level of gray in between), across the charts there are much higher numbers of pixels for each level of gray all the way up to white, and a significantly lower levels of black pixels with the Brilliant Series than with the standard.

Go to HiVis Supply for the very best from ML Kishigo, and the very best for your workers. They can’t afford not to wear the best and the brightest.