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When your team is in the field, your workers need to wear safety vests, or high-visibility vests. These vests are made with highly reflective materials that keep individual workers visible, especially at night. All safety vests are rated and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Safety vests are classified as Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3, based on the amount of both reflective material and high contrast (orange or lime color) fabric making up the vest. The degree of reflectivity in the tape and intensity of the background fabric colors are specified in the ANSI standard. The more hazardous your workplace, the more visible your team needs to be.
Learn about the differences between the classes of hi-vis vests and when to use each.
Class 1 vests are essential for professionals operating in environments where the separation from traffic is substantial, and vehicle speeds do not surpass 25 mph. These vests meet the minimum requirements for high-visibility clothing in professional settings, underscoring the necessity of being visible in low-risk situations. Ideal for parking lot attendants, delivery personnel, and roadside assistance workers, these vests ensure safety by incorporating at least 155 square inches of reflective tape for optimal visibility (Daigler, ).
Designed for more challenging conditions, Class 2 safety vests cater to environments with inclement weather, proximity to roadways, and traffic exceeding 25 mph. Providing a moderate visibility level, these vests are tailored for individuals whose tasks may divert their attention from oncoming traffic. With a requirement for at least 201 square inches of reflective tape, these vests are a critical safety measure for airport personnel, toll booth operators, and forest workers, enhancing their focus and safety without compromising visibility (Daigler, ).
Class 3 safety vests offer the utmost level of visibility for professionals engaged near fast-moving traffic or in areas with poor visibility conditions. These garments are essential for emergency responders, roadway construction teams, utility workers, and surveyors, providing comprehensive protection and visibility. With a minimum of 310 square inches of reflective tape, these vests are designed to outline the full silhouette of the wearer, ensuring they are unmistakably visible and safe in any work condition (Daigler, ).
Reflective safety vests should be just as comfortable as they are safe. If you&#;re looking for reflective safety vests for members of your team, visit PK Safety for a wide selection of high-visibility clothing, including Class 1, 2 and 3 vests.
The PIP ANSI Type R Class 3 Two-Tone Surveyor Vest is made of a mesh and a solid polyester fabric which adds breathability and less prone to dirt and damage. The contrasting colored tape around silver reflective provides optimal visibility.
The PIP ANSI R3 Two-Tone Mesh Surveyor Vest is made of a mesh adds a great deal of breathability especially in warmer climates.
The PIP ANSI Class 2 Two-Tone Six Pocket Surveyor's Vest comes with a back-mesh panel that keeps you cool on the job, while the front panel comes with pockets for radios, phones, and other supplies. It also comes with reinforced stitching for more durability, and two-tone reflective tape for more visibility in the field.
The PIP Type R Class 2 Two Pocket Zipper Mesh Vest 302-Z-LY is made of polyester mesh for more breathability. You and your team can stay cool on the job without putting yourselves at risk. It&#;s perfect for anyone that needs a Class 2 reflective safety vest.
The PIP Yellow Mesh D-Ring Access Hi-Vis Vest 302-D-LY is perfect for those working in class 2 work zones or those facing potential fall hazards. It&#;s made with breathable fabric and comes with a built-in access point for attaching a safety harness. Available in Lime Yellow and Orange.
Stay safe on the job with these quality hi-vis safety vests. For more information on the differences between Class 1, 2 and 3 vests, contact the safety professionals at PK Safety.
Sources: Daigler, D. (). KEEPING WORK CREWS VISIBLE FOR SAFETY. Public works, 133.
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Pip Safety Vest, Safety Vest Fabric, Safety Vest, Rated R Vest
*Disclaimer*
The information contained on this page is for promotional and informational purposes only. All equipment should be used by trained professional tradesmen who have been trained how to use the equipment described on this page, and understand the risks of their work. PowerPak assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the use or misuse of any product purchased. In no event shall PowerPak be liable for any direct, special, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other torts, arising out of or in connection with the use of this information or the contents of this page. PowerPak reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents on this page at any time without prior notice.
If you know what you need, safety vests are very straightforward, but without all the information, you&#;ll pay for the wrong vest. They may seem all the same, but Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) enforcement will tell you otherwise. ANSI (American National Standards Institute) breaks down safety vests into types and classes to help narrow your search (ANSI/ISEA 107-).
Let's dive in.
There are three different classes of safety vest, each geared towards specific situations. As with almost every safety situation, there is nothing wrong with opting for a vest that is a higher class than the minimum requirements for the work zone.
Safety vests are categorized into 3 &#;types,&#; and each type splits into 3 &#;classes.&#;
Type O &#; Safety vests intended for Non-Roadway occupational use. Type O only has class 1 safety vests.
Type R - Safety vests intended for Roadway occupational use. Type R has both class 2 and class 3 safety vests.
Type P &#; Safety vests for law enforcement and first responders. Type P has both class 2 and class 3 safety vests.
For this article, we will mainly focus on Type O and Type R safety vests. This &#;type and class&#; system is not just for vests but for all HVSA (High Visibility Safety Apparel) such as hi-vis pants, hi-vis jumpsuits, jackets, etc.
ANSI updated its documentation defining all things safety apparel in (ANSI/ISEA 107-)
This one is simple. Class 1 is the only HVSA Type O safety vest and has the lowest required amount of high-visibility material.
Class 1 Safety Vests are for the lowest-risk areas. It could be situations where you are working a safe distance from the active roadway, but there is still potential for an incident. They have a safety yellow or safety orange background, and a minimum of 155 square inches of reflective strips. They are lightweight and sleeveless.
For more information, please visit High Visibility Yellow Fabric Custom.
Class 1 safety vests are for work conditions without vehicles traveling at highway speeds. It could be where traffic is traveling no faster than 25 miles per hour. The ANSI documentation also states that the background of the worksite should not be visually complex.
Class 2 (Type R) HSVA safety vests have bumped up requirements. Like Class 1 (Type O), these vests are usually sleeveless.
The industry rule of thumb is to require these vests on worksites where traffic flow is 25mph &#; 50mph. These safety vests are more noticeable during the day or night at greater distances when compared to class 1 safety vests.
Class 2 Safety Vests are larger than Class 1 vests, Class 2 vests incorporate a specific amount of background material into the mix. To be a Class 2 vest, it must have no less than 775 square inches of safety yellow or safety orange background material to it. There must also be no less than 201 square inches of reflective (Reflective or Combined-Performance Materials) striping across the vest. These are required for roadway and traffic zones where traffic is moving no faster than 50 miles per hour.
PowerPak offers many options for those in need of class 2 safety vests.
Class 3 (Type R) HSVA safety vests have the highest material requirements compared to Class 1 and 2. The industry rule of thumb is worksites with traffic traveling over 50 mph should require Class 3 safety vests.
Class 3 Safety Vests are for the most hazardous environments where visibility is paramount. Class 3 vest provides the most background material and the most retroreflective striping. In many cases, these vests have sleeves. These vests must have, at minimum, 1,240 square inches of safety yellow or safety orange background, and at least 310 square inches of reflective striping.
If you&#;re in need of class 3 safety vests quickly, PowerPak offers a wide range of options.
As mentioned, all ANSI classes of safety vests must have minimum amounts of TWO types of material. Background material and retroreflective material/combined performance material.
Background material and retroreflective material/combined performance material. Background material is fluorescent colored fabric, usually safety orange or safety yellow. It&#;s the brightly colored mesh or fabric you think of when thinking of safety vests. This material is highly visible during the day.
Retro reflective material is the striping you see on safety vests. People often confuse the term retro reflective and reflective, but they are different, and they perform differently.
When light hits something reflective, like a mirror, at an angle, that light bounces off in the opposite direction. Retroreflective reflects the light directly back towards the light source. This material is highly visible at night with direction lights, such as car headlights. You&#;ll often find retroreflective tape in silver, white, and gray.
All these materials are required to meet various ANSI standards.
A vest may have Combined-Performance material in place of retroreflective tape. Combined-performance materials/tapes have retroreflective properties and meet the fluorescent requirements of background material. Some vests have combined-performance striping that matches the background material giving the best daytime visibility without sacrificing nighttime visibility.
Although OSHA has no specific guidelines on vest colors, some colors work better in certain environments than others. Orange vests are ideal for settings with a lot of vegetation, a blue sky or yellow sunlight. Orange-colored vests also work well in wide-open areas, particularly in the daytime.
Yellow safety vests are perfect for night work when sunlight is minimal because fluorescent yellow is more noticeable from a distance against a dark background. Yellow vests are common among construction workers, emergency responders and utility repair people.
The general rule of thumb is to choose the most noticeable color for each specific environment. Learn more about safety vest colors here.
Depending on the supplier, vests can range anywhere from a few dollars for simple designs to several hundred dollars for products with reflective tape and multiple features. Because they have the fewest amount of safety material, Class 1 vests are typically the least expensive. As the material requirements increase, the prices generally become more expensive.
Flame and tear-resistant vests usually cost much more than those without extra durability features.
Safety vests of any class or type can come with several features, and many worksites will require some of these options. Flame-Resistance: ANSI offers manufacturers the option of six different flame-resistant standards for rating safety vests. The test method is on the vest label.
Understanding the classes is one thing, but you&#;ll also need to consider the specifics of your worksite when it comes to choosing the best class-rated vest for your team members. Remember, there&#;s nothing wrong with going with a Class 3 Vest for every site &#; greater visibility is never a bad thing.
Consider the general visibility at your work site, how far from high-speed traffic your workers will be, and if there are physical barriers between the workers and traffic. A Class 2 vest is perfect for utility operations and volunteer work, but not good enough for flagging operations. A Class 3 vest is necessary for incident response, particularly at night, but is overkill for a landscaper. A Class 1 vest is never good enough to be worn within the right-of-way of a high-speed highway.
You should also opt for color that differentiates the worker from the environment. Safety yellow isn&#;t going to stick out against a bright yellow or light green environment, just as safety orange won&#;t stick out as much in a sand or desert environment.
One thing to note, as with all personal protective equipment, proper maintenance is important. The reflective qualities of the vests can diminish over time &#; sun can fade them, they can get dirty, and the reflective material can rub away through heavy use. Most daily-wear vests have a service life of six months or so, while moderate use could last up to three years. If a vest is torn, dirty, soiled, worn or faded, it must be replaced before going on-site.
While the appropriate class-rated vests are a great start for visibility on the work site, and cover the individual, there is so much more you can do to protect your workers in traffic-heavy work zones.
Work zone safety is paramount to us here at PowerPak, and our team members are standing by to help you find the most efficient and cost-effective solution to preventing incidents stemming from poor visibility on your work site. Contact our team, they are here to help keep you and your team members safe and sound!
If you want to learn more, please visit our website High Visibility Yellow Fabric China.