Safety Vests – Wear a Traffic Safety Vest
Safety vests are an essential piece of protective gear for anyone who works outside. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) sets certain standards for safety apparel to insure that workers are getting the proper protection for job they are doing and the risk they are incurring.
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The value of a safety vest is the visibility it offers to oncoming traffic and to fellow co-workers who are operating equipment on site, yet still allowing a full range of motion.
ANSI standards address what colors allow for the highest visibility in various levels of light, and how brightly those colors register against different backgrounds. Bright orange and lime green are the safety-approved colors, and features include interior pockets that won't impede any reflective striping, and zipper fronts.
Depending on the class and weather conditions, the fabric of safety vests can range of a durable polyester mesh to a rugged, water repellent nylon. Each class carries a greater number and size of reflective striping, in accordance with conditions the wearer is facing.
ANSI defines three classes of safety vests and the category of worker that should be wearing them:
Class 1:
Traffic safety vests in this category are appropriate for workers in controlled environments, like the loading dock of a warehouse, or for those who will be giving their full attention to traffic. There should also be a large distance of separation of the worker from oncoming traffic, which should be traveling no faster than 25 miles per hour. Parking attendants, warehouse personnel and people who retrieve shopping carts from parking lots are among the workers for whom ANSI Class 1 safety vests provide sufficient visibility.Class 2:
This class requires a higher visibility vest than Class 1, since the worker in this category will be engaged in activities that likely divert his attention from oncoming traffic, or puts him near vehicles passing at more than 25 miles an hour. The traffic vest for this person must be readily visible during periods of inclement weather, or in environments that contain greater risks than those faced by a Class 1 worker.Class 3:
Class 3 vests are similar to Class 2, but designed to provide the highest level of visibility, and are meant to be worn by those who face serious hazards or whose task load requires an shift of attention away from their work. Class 3 vests are essential for workers who deal with traffic traveling at speeds of 50 miles per hour and higher, and who work in all manner of weather (utility repair crews, emergency service workers), so vests in this class are required to provide enhanced visibility to not just the chest and back, but to the arms and legs as well.You don't need to be a worker to appreciate the protection of a safety vest. Anyone engaged in outside activities – skiers, snowmobilers, hikers and bikers – will benefit from adding a safety vest to their standard sporting gear, especially if their apparel isn't brightly colored or has no reflective capabilities. Take safety seriously, even when you're just having fun.
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