Hi Vis Workwear Keeps Workers Safe on the Job


 

Cargo work pants with reflective tape

Some of the most important jobs are also the most dangerous. Workers in industries like construction, highway maintenance, long shoring and warehousing, transportation and utilities, as well as first responders and public safety personnel, all work in difficult conditions, in proximity to traffic and/or moving heavy machinery. Work safety gear like hi-vis vests and high visibility button down shirts can help them to stand out when working in dangerous conditions and bad weather.

Protective gear saves lives
Workers at airports, on highway construction sites, utility crews and personnel like EMS first responders and police have difficult and dangerous jobs. They?re also vitally important for our safety and well being. Workplace accidents and fatalities happen, and they affect workers in these crucial industries. In 2015 alone, 4,836 workers were killed while on the job. That averages around 13 deaths every day. The number of workplace injuries runs into the tens of thousands every year.
Younger workers tend to be more vulnerable to accidents and injuries, as do new employees with less than one year on the job. As of 2013, the latter category were there times more likely to suffer a nonfatal work-related injury as compared to their more experienced colleagues. Federal regulations regarding work safety clothing and equipment stipulate that workers in such jobs should have the protection that safety clothing like high visibility button down shirts can provide.
Workplace safety standards and compliance
Federal agencies like OSHA and FHA define workplace safety standards, including standards for safety clothing. The American National Standards Institute or ANSI standards for workplace safety clothing were defined in 1999. They outlines the standard for visibility and design, stipulating factors like color, durability, incorporation of reflective materials and design that completely covers the torso without hampering free movement.
Based on these, ANSI 107 defines three levels of visibility, which provide Classe 1, 2 or 3 levels of protection. The levels of protection match the levels of risk to which workers are exposed. Bright and fluorescent colors like yellow, orange and lime green, which stand out against a dark background, are used for high visibility workwear. These colors can be seen clearly even in bad weather conditions like rain and fog.

Types of hi vis clothing
Hi vis protective clothing can include hi visibility button down shirts, sweatshirts, t shirts, jackets, pants, rain wear, hats gloves and women’s clothing. All of these must be made of durable materials that are restraint to tearing and snagging. Work safety gear is also designed for different weather conditions.
Safety workwear is also weatherproof, to allow workers to remain protected from rain and snow while doing their jobs. For warmer climates, mesh may be incorporated into the workwear design for breathability. Breathable reflective rain gear keeps firefighters, traffic police and airport personnel safe even in extremely high temperatures. Likewise, heavy duty rain gear for construction allows work to continue without stoppages due to bad weather conditions.

Federal regulations from the OSHA and FHA provide the guidelines for workplace safety. Workplace safety gear like high visibility button down shirts can prevent accidents and injuries and save lives. It allows workers like first responders, utility and construction crews and others to do their jobs in safety. There are different types of high visibility clothing, depending on the level of risk in each situation. Work safety apparel can also be designed to suit different types of extreme weather.

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