Construction workers, tractor-trailer drivers, equipment operators, and highway workers all wear hi-vis employee uniforms.
In many industries, employee uniforms are essential to ensuring the health and safety of workers. Hi-vis workwear is brightly colored and reflective, to make sure that everyone on site is visible at all times. The Associated General Contractors of America has conducted surveys that reveal just how important these uniforms are as about 20 percent of highways in the country are under construction.
Who Uses Hi-Vis
Let’s go over a list of the careers where hi-vis workwear is essential to employee safety. Construction workers, tractor-trailer drivers, equipment operators, and highway workers all wear hi-vis employee uniforms. It’s crucial to these careers that workers remain visible in all conditions so that motorists, especially, will be able to see where they are working. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has regulations about workers being protected from potential hazards, which are magnified if you can’t see them.
Hi-Vis Specifications
It’s important that the type of hi-vis workwear being worn on a site is appropriate to the conditions of the environment. Managers and supervisors must consider the colors of the surrounding area. Yellow-green, orange-red, and red reflective options work better depending on the background of the work site. It’s also important that the reflective materials provide full visibility, on the front and back of the uniform, as well as each side.
Requirements and Regulations
In addition to OSHA regulations, the American National Standards Institute also classifies hi-vis clothing into three categories. Class 1 gear works best in simple backgrounds, where traffic speed does not exceed 25 miles per hour. Class 2 gear is more appropriate for traffics speeds that are greater than 25 miles per hour and where any inclement weather will directly impact worker safety. It’s more reflective than Class 1 gear and is important for workers that aren’t always facing traffic. Class 3 gear is the most reflective and is necessary to ensure safety where traffic speeds exceed 50 miles per hour. Warehouse workers and parking lot attendants use Class 1, crossing guards, toll workers, and airport ground crews use Class 2, and emergency responders and highway construction workers use Class 3 gear.
For All of Your Uniform Services Needs
To give your business a clean, professional, and cohesive look, rely on Ace Uniform. Whether you need uniforms in the food, automotive, industrial, construction, medical, security, or you-name-it industry, we can provide you with the uniforms you need for the price you want. Give us a call at 1-800-366-1616 or visit us online to learn how we can help meet your needs. Want to get to know us even better? Visit us on social media on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.