BEST PRACTICES FOR CHOOSING HIGH-VISIBILITY WORKWEAR

Protecting your employees is a top concern of every manager. This means more than handing out safety glasses, protective gloves, and warm gear in cold temps. When you’re working around vehicle traffic of any kind – delivery trucks, forklifts, construction equipment – it’s important that your employees can be seen by the workers operating the equipment.

High-visibility (HiVis) clothing addresses this need; however, managers and employees aren’t always sure exactly who needs HiVis clothing and what kind should be worn. Read on to learn about the different types of high-visibility safety gear and simple best practices you can implement to keep your employees safe on the job.

What are the types of ANSI ratings for HiVis clothing?

The American National Standards Institute sets the standards that HiVis workwear must meet to be certified and gear can be rated in 3 types and 4 classes. Each has specific requirements for HiVis material and reflective tape that must be on the garment to meet the ANSI standards.

Type O for Off-Road

Type O is for “off-road” workers who have risk of being struck, but aren’t exposed to traffic on public roadways. Examples of these workers are those retrieving shopping carts from parking lots, workers on foot in warehouses that use forklifts or other mobile equipment, and workers in oil and gas extraction, refineries, and mines.

Type R for Roadway

Type R is for “roadway” workers who are exposed to traffic on roadways. Examples of these workers are roadway construction teams, gate personnel for tolls or parking, crossing guards, tow operators, and airport ground crew, including baggage handlers.

Type P for Public Safety

Type P is for “public safety,” meaning those who work in law enforcement, emergency response, firefighters, road closures, and to investigate accidents. These personnel could also wear Type R, but Type P allows for some additional options for workers who have competing hazards or must access special equipment.

ANSI Classes for HiVis Clothing

ANSI also rates HiVis workwear by classes: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Class E (supplemental).

Each class must meet a specific amount of material and reflective tape to for the class standard. Class 1 has the lowest amount of high visibility material (the lime and orange colors) and reflective tape. Class 2 has a higher amount, and Class 3 has the highest amount of material and tape for maximum protection.

Class E items are supplemental garments like bib overalls or pants. Pairing a Class E garment with a Class 2 garment makes the entire outfit Class 3.

What is the best ANSI-rated HiVis gear for your employees?

Not all employees face the same hazards, so the HiVis clothing they need can differ from employee to employee. Most warehouse workers only need Type O, Class 1 gear (such as a mesh vest) but doing a hazard assessment will make it clear what standards you need. Many workplaces decide to use a higher standard than required to ensure safety.

Here are some important factors to consider when choosing ANSI compliant HiVis clothing:

• If you have a large fleet of forklifts and other work equipment moving quickly through your warehouse, where employees are focused on their tasks and not the traffic, those employees are better suited to Type R Class 2 or 3 than Type O Class 1.
• Equipment operators, such as order selectors, aren’t always operating their equipment – consideration needs to be taken for when they are on foot in a work zone.
• If the lighting conditions on your dock or in your warehouse are closer to night conditions than daylight, Class 3 compliant garments might be best for those employees.
• Delivery drivers are subjected to a number of conditions, so you should consider outfitting them in Class 2 or Class 3.
• It is often easiest to outfit all employees in the highest class required. For example, if you have areas requiring Class 1 and others requiring Class 2 compliance, providing Class 2 compliant gear to all workers keeps them visible in all scenarios.

HiVis Best Practices

Choose the Right Type of HiVis WorkWear

There are many types of ANSI-rated HiVis apparel, from vests and jackets to pant sets, overalls and coveralls. When doing a hazard assessment to determine the proper HiVis apparel, it is helpful to consider other necessary protections as well, then determine the best solution of gear for your employees.

For example, in conditions that require waterproof gear, a waterproof jacket that is ANSI compliant is a better choice than a waterproof jacket paired with an ANSI compliant vest. Workers who only enter the warehouse occasionally, on the other hand, can utilize an ANSI compliant vest over their other gear.

You might also consider accessories, like gloves and headwear, or footwear that features visibility-enhancing features. Many of these items will have reflective piping or accents that may make your employees more visible head-to-foot.

HiVis Clothing for Low-Temperature Environments

In environments that require HiVis clothing but also have added safety concerns such as low temperatures, what is the best way to address all safety needs? One solution is to have employees wear the proper ANSI compliant vest over their insulated clothing. But vests can be lost and may need to be replaced often, and if you require ANSI Class 2 or 3 compliance, those vests can limit movement and productivity when placed over heavier insulated gear.

Requiring gear that protects employees in cold temperatures and is ANSI compliant reduces the risk of lost or misplaced HiVis vests, increases the longevity of gear and helps with productivity as employees are not wearing unnecessary layers.

It is also important to note that Class E compliant items, such as pants, bibs and overalls, make an outfit Class 3 compliant when paired with a Class 2 jacket or vest.

X on the Back for Enhanced Safety

Selecting HiVis clothing with the reflective tape in an alternate shape enhances safety in low-visibility environments. Reflective tape can be used to signal to a driver if a worker they are driving towards is facing them or not. By utilizing a different pattern of tape on the front (an H shape) than on the back (an X shape), other workers will know if the person they are approaching might see the oncoming vehicle.

Canada’s standards for safety, CSA Z96, require the X shape in tape on the back for compliance. If you need to meet both ANSI and CSA standards, you need garments with the added X-Back feature.

Contrasting Background

When choosing HiVis apparel, it is important to consider the background your workers will be seen against.

Is the majority of the equipment you use yellow? You should choose orange protective gear to assist with contrast. Workers deal frequently with orange shipping containers? The gear they wear should be yellow to prevent blending.

Compare different HiVis materials to the background your workers are in to find the best contrast for your environment.

Shop High-Visibility Workwear

Not all work environments require HiVis clothing; but, when it is required, it is important to consider all the factors of the environment and job duties before selecting gear for your employees. Check federal and state OSHA guidelines for your work conditions and make sure the gear you select is ANSI compliant for your specific work environment.

If you need help selecting the right high-visibility workwear for your employees, please contact RefrigiWear Customer Service.