People working as traffic enforcers, construction workers
, and airport personnel are exposed to some of the most hazardous conditions every day. Working in environments with poor visibility combined with proximity to heavy or high speed machines lends itself to accidents. One careless mistake can lead to tragic consequences.
If you or a loved one works in one of these high-pressure jobs, one thing you can do to ensure safety is to encourage the use of High Visibility (Hi-Vis) clothing. These are pieces of clothing that enhance the visual impact of the person wearing them. They often come in bright, garish shades. The best ones use light manipulation to call even more attention to the wearer. Some variants glow in the dark while others have reflective patches that flash light into the eyes of observers.
ANSI safety vests are a common choice in safety clothing. These are garments that have been evaluated and standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to meet minimum requirements for safety and visibility. The vests are usually classified into three classes.
ANSI class 1 safety vests are the lowest choice on the safety totem pole. They are small garments, measuring a total of 217 square inches. Only an approximate 71% of its area is covered by a brightly colored or reflective fabric. If this choice is insufficient for your needs, it is advisable to upgrade to ANSI class 2 safety vests.
ANSI class 2 safety vests are composed of 755 square inches of background material with more than 200 inches layered with highly reflective fabric. They are recommended for workers who operate near roads where vehicles reach speeds of up to 25 mph. They come in several variants. Some have no pockets for those who prefer a smooth surface while others are designed with lots of velcro patches and compartments to store work equipment.
ANSI class 3 safety vests are the top of the line when it comes to Hi-Vis clothing. Its the biggest at 1240 square inches, over 300 inches of which is covered in reflective material. They have long-sleeved versions and are rated for high visibility in conditions where vehicles reach speeds of 50mph. They also have a tear-away feature built into the vest. This allows individual sections to safely disengage from the main garment if it gets caught on equipment or a passing car.