Tagged with 'hi-visibility clothing'

 

 

Hi vis apparel is mandatory for highway construction safety. Highway construction workers are much too close to oncoming traffic and all sizes of vehicles, some of which don't obey the construction zone speed limits.

 

In the evening, it's even more dangerous. So for workzone crews, or any construction worker that needs to be easily seen, wearing a retroreflective safety vest can be a lifesaver.

 

Hi-visibility safety awareness campaigns also go a long way, not only for protecting roadside crews but also for pedestrians and motorists from potentially harming these construction workers.

 

Construction workers on the highway need increased visibility especially after dark. Performing their duties without high visibility gear would endure an accident. Add any kind of detrimental weather and it makes it nearly impossible to see them.

Use of the term Public safety organization reasonably implies that the organization is composed of law enforcement or public safety personnel. Terms used to describe these occupations usually include officer, peace officer, police officer, police, law enforcement, reserve officer, deputy, deputy sheriff, constable, deputy constable, fireman, firefighter, volunteer fireman and/or emergency medical service provider, paramedics and search and rescue workers.

US federal law states that all personnel working on a highway that is eligible for federal funds to wear a hi-vis vest starting on November 25, 2008. Firefighters are excluded while engaged in firefighting activities or hazardous materials (hazmat) situations. Otherwise, hi-visibility clothing must be worn. Also, paramedics and police officers not engaged in law enforcement activities are required by law to wear high visibility clothing.

In 2006, ANSI released the 207-2006, or American National Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests, in response to issues raised by public safety officials with respect to the ANSI 107 vest design. Their concerns were both tactical and influenced by a need to differentiate between law enforcement/emergency personnel and the vests worn by construction workers. The changes have different requirements for fluorescent background material, specifically allowing for a shorter design that allows equipment belt access. It also includes many optional features, such as a 5-point breakaway design for easy removal, panels readily identifying the wearer as an emergency responder, and radio and badge pockets/holders.

These vests features an upper mesh, color coded fabric for proper public service department identification along with a hi-vis solid fabric bottom. Each vest includes: left chest mic tab, pencil pocket and inside large lower patch pocket. Breakaway shoulders and sides with tear away zipper front closure. The vest folds into the large inside pocket to become a self enclosed pouch for storage. The vests also offers 4-season adjustability to accomodate bulky coats. Available in sizes M/XL and 2XL/4XL.

HiVis Supply is a reseller of high visibility apparel including: ANSI approved clothing, safety vests, traffic vests, hivis vests, ANSI Class 2, ANSI Class 3, ANSI 107-2004, ANSI 207, ANSI Class E, public safety vests, incident command vests, specialty vests, survey vests, safety pants, high visibility t-shirts, high visibility jackets, sweatshirts, coats, windbreakers and rainwear.

Use of hi-visibility clothing has been readily evident with gulf oil spill workers and clean-up crew in response to the BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster back in April. Since then, environmental clean-up, contaminated water and Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana shoreline workers have been tasked to alleviate all signs of the oil spill from contaminated beaches and coastal waterways, and posting beach closure signs, oil spill clean-up signs, no water contact signs and oil spill response signs.

Black Series Windbreaker

Every year workers and employees sustain injuries and/or are killed working roadside including highway and pavement workers, construction crews, law enforcement and first responders, incident command - these people all run the risk of not being seen by motorists, careless and fast driving, fellow employees running big equipment and simply blending into their backgrounds. The use of high-visibility safety vests can save lives.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established standards, ANSI/ISEA 107-2004, for hi-vis vests and other high visibility gear. Such high visibility clothing is available in many forms, the most common being a Class 1 safety vest, Class 2 safety vest or Class 3 safety vest. Otherwise known as a traffic vest or construction vest, this category also includes retro-reflective jackets, reflective sweatshirts and fluorescent T-shirts.

ANSI hi-visibility clothing must be visible both by day and night and the ANSI standard sets the amount of reflective material the garment must have. Hi-vis clothing complying with the ANSI standards has become the status quo throughout industry as an effective way to protect workers by increasing their visibility. Also, workers within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway near traffic, light or heavy equipment or machinery within the work area are required to wear a ANSI approved reflective clothing such as an ANSI jacket or traffic vest, and possibly additional high visibility safety apparel. Additionally, those workers who would need hi vis clothing include highway workers and pavers, surveyors, equipment and truck drivers, construction and maintenance crews, inspectors, flaggers, incident command and first responders (EMS and firefighters).