Traffic Safety Vest Criteria Will Save The Lives Of Employees

Many of us spend our working hours in an office cubicle. There are few real dangers other than file cabinets and virtually no chance of being accidentally killed. Imagine transporting that same cubicle to the side of a crowded freeway, however, and you will begin to understand why the traffic safety vest is so important for many workers in highway maintenance and other dangerous professions. Visibility can make the difference between a routine day on the job and one that ends in the hospital.

Not Meant For Fashion

Although these garments will never grace the cover of a fashion magazine, all have unique properties. When first introduced about forty years ago, this type of occupational clothing was not mandatory. Today, most workers are required to wear protective outerwear usually made of a blend of nylon and polyester, and most have reflective stripes for added visibility.

Up To Standards

The responsibility for upholding 21st century worker protective clothing standards falls under the control of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). These agencies routinely update requirements for safety garments. Today, this clothing must not only be comfortable to wear but must also be highly resistant to water and fire.

Although one basic design does not accommodate all professions, each vest must still conform to basic quality regulations. To comply with current rules,each type of material must be fade resistant, durable and able to be treated with extremely bright dyes. Additionally, material used in the striping must meet the quality evaluations of an objective third party.

Different ANSI Classes

There are actually three classes of work vests used in specific environments. Off-road maintenance workers and low-risk parking lot attendants often wear the Class 1 designated suit. Class 2 outfits are in the wardrobe of various control officers and crossing guards who routinely face cars and trucks traveling less than 25 miles per hour. The most hazardous jobs require Class 3 vests, worn in areas where vehicles move faster than 50 miles per hour.

Colors

Standard colors for these protective garments are extremely bright and highly visible, including fluorescent orange, yellow, and lime-green. Blue is sometimes worn by emergency response personnel in order to differentiate those workers at an accident site. Other kinds of employees may have their profession imprinted on the exterior, including firefighters, police officers, and security workers.

Which Do You Need?

Purchasing agents responsible for ordering this clothing for their work force check often for updated standards and new features. One sign of the times is the emergence of a garment designed for those who must respond to incidents of urban terrorist activity. Other areas require vests specifically designed to hold up in all weather, including extremes of both heat and cold.

When buying a high visibility safety vests for personal visibility when hunting or hiking, bear in mind that not all meet current ANSI standards. Avoid unscrupulous merchants who simply glue some reflective striping on an inferior quality item in order to make a sale. The best overall protection and the highest visibility is usually found in a traffic vest that conforms to standards and has been proven effective in daily use by real workers.

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