Safety Vests
Safety vests with high visibility are a must for many construction work zones and poorly lit areas. Over the years there have been gradual improvements and changes to make safety vests more useful for workers. Depending on your job and the perceived hazards, the type of vest you may need to buy will vary. Vests range in different levels according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
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Varying Vests
A vest that is not ANSI approved is considered for usage in Class 1 environments. Various disciplines use these and the vests usually come in colors of orange, yellow and lime green. A Class 2 approved vest is a similar look to what police often wear. They're ideal for extreme work like asphalt paving and protection in short term labor. There is a lot of wear and tear inherent in many of these labor positions in construction. Class 3, the second tier of (ANSI) approval following Class 2 uses similar colors for daytime work but can have highly reflective material for various purposes of nighttime work.
The majority of vests are made out of a polyester mesh of some kind that either will keep you cooler in the daytime or warmer at night. Varying types of work can put at risk mostly due to visibility concerns. A few types of light sources include reflective stripes and LED safety vest attachments to be seen.
Construction Safety
At the main construction site flaggers will need vests more than anyone. They're not only necessary but also fill a requirement from (OSHA). The different colored clothing or vests required for visibility come in the standard orange, yellow or lime green. Construction flaggers need to wear their safety vests at night with reflective materials to be seen. The OSHA requirement is that reflective materials need to be visible from over 1,000 feet away.
Class Levels in Depth
There are three basic levels already set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as previously stated and shown through the different types of vests. Primarily the areas for Class 1 work involve road maintenance and parking lot attendants, the level of vests don't require any (ANSI) approval, but the level is still there regardless.
Following that Class 2 is based where traffic speeds of any vehicles or construction apparatuses are traveling at 25 mph or less. On the street, these (ANSI) safety vests are usually used and worn by crossing guards or traffic control officers. Finally, Class 3 requires full (ANSI) approval and is often used by highway construction workers. Speeds in this class exceed 50 mph regularly, and the necessary vest components must be met.
Overall, the two institutes publish standards based on what they consider the minimum protection levels for safety vests. (OSHA) is usually one to use (ANSI) data in setting the guidelines and the two work cohesively together to form a safe construction work environment. Independent testing around the world approve the different safety guidelines before they are put into action and use.
Shop our line of Safety Vests. If you have any questions, give us a call 888-688-8769 or [email protected]
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