Why High Visible Safety Vests & Uniforms are Important for Truck Drivers
High visibility safety vests & uniforms are essential in certain professions to ensure the safety of your workers. Truck driving is one of the most common professions that requires having a safety vest almost at all times when the driver is out of it’s vehicle. Fleet managers have to provide this to their drivers and it is important to know how to protect them the best.
High visibility uniforms and vests come in various reflective and fluorescent bright colors for use during the day and at night. It is vital to choose the appropriate high vis clothing that best suits the job environment and conditions.
Reflective vests and uniforms are for use in low light levels and nighttime work environments.
Fluorescent vests and uniforms are better suited for bright and daytime work environments. The bright colors make it easy for people to see workers since they stand out. They are not suited for low light or nighttime work. There are some vests and uniforms that offer both types of materials so they can be used in both work environments. However, not all reflective vests and uniforms are fluorescent, nor are all fluorescent vests and uniforms reflective. Keep this in mind when selecting the appropriate high vis safety vests and uniforms for your work environment.
BENEFITS OF HIGH VISIBILITY VESTS AND UNIFORMS
- Helps ensure your employees remain visible at all times.
- Easier for drivers to see workers.
- Creates a safer working environment.
- The likelihood of accidents is reduced
SELECTING THE RIGHT HIGH VISIBLE SAFETY VESTS AND UNIFORMS
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established high visibility standards to help employers and safety managers in any industry choose high visibility clothing that can help protect their workers.
To guarantee you select the right high vis safety clothing for your employees, you should review the ANSI Standards. These standards are referred to in OSHA guidelines for creating safe working environments for jobs which should use high vis clothing.
Class 1 ANSI Safety Vest
Class one vests are for workers whose job puts them at the lowest risk level. These would be jobs in areas where traffic is traveling at or below 25 mph, and work is taking place at a safe distance from a roadway. An example of this type of work would be sidewalk repair in a small residential neighborhood.
According to the ANSI in order for a vest to qualify as a Class 1 safety vest it must either a safety yellow or safety orange color, and have a minimum of 155 square inches of reflective tape. These reflective strips must go around the middle of the vest as well as over the shoulder. These ANSI safety vests are designed to cover the torso only and do not require sleeves.
An ANSI Class 2 safety vest is intended for working environments that pose a greater risk. This can include workers who are on a roadway where traffic is moving under 50 mph. These vests are larger than their class 1 counterparts because they require more high visibility and reflective areas to be present. A Class 2 vest must have at least 775 inches of safety yellow or safety orange background material and 201 square inches of reflective striping. These ANSI safety vests are commonly worn by survey crews, airport baggage handlers, and school crossing guards.
Class 3 ANSI Safety Vest
Class 3 jackets and vests are reserved for people working in the most dangerous environments where visibility is the highest priority. This includes roadways where traffic is traveling in excess of 50mph, but it can also apply to emergency personnel or tow truck operators working in blizzard or hurricane conditions where visibility is at a minimum.
ANSI Class 3 safety vests are the largest of the ANSI vests because they require the most background fabric and reflective striping. Because a class 3 vest requires a whopping 1,240 inches of safety yellow or safety orange background and 310 square inches of reflective striping, it often resembles a short sleeve t-shirt more than a traditional vest.