Picture this: you’re minding your own business on the job site when all of a sudden you look up and notice taillights moving towards you. You wave your arms, signalling the truck to stop, but the driver can’t see you under the cover of both dark and fog. You’re able to get yourself out of the way in time, but it’s left you shaken. How did you end up in his path? How did he not see you?

High-visibility clothing is critical component of PPE for many workers, particularly in the construction industry. Workers who fail to wear it risk being pinned between vehicles and walls, struck by moving vehicles or heavy equipment, and even hit by moving cars on the roadway.

Hi-vis clothing basics

High-visibility work clothing should be used whenever there is poor lighting, poor weather conditions, or during work in an area that has a lot of moving vehicles and equipment. While spotters and those working in close proximity to moving traffic are always required to wear hi-vis garments, it’s recommended that all workers on the site use them.

Determining the right type of gear for the job requires understanding what class safety risk the activities being performed fall into.

Class 1

  • Traffic does not exceed 25 mph

  • Ample separation between workers and traffic flow

  • Examples: parking service attendants, sidewalk maintenance workers, warehouse workers

Class 2

  • Workers near roadways where traffic exceeds 25 mph but is less than 50 mph

  • Weather conditions necessitate greater visibility

  • Examples: crossing guards, parking and toll gate personnel, law enforcement personnel directing traffic, airport ground crews

Class 3

  • High task loads in wide range of weather conditions

  • Traffic exceeds 50 mph

  • Examples: road construction workers, utility workers, emergency responders, survey crews, accident site investigators

Key points for workers to note

It’s important that workers understand the critical nature of high-visibility gear – and that they don it every time they’re in conditions where visibility is poor and moving vehicles pose a threat, even if they’ll ‘only be a second.’

Workers should have a good understanding of the different classes of work activities and the corresponding hi-vis apparel that is recommended. This enables them to make informed decisions about their level of visibility, particularly if the are carrying out different tasks or the weather changes throughout the shift.

Finally, it’s critical that workers be able to identify the various hazards in and around their job site and understand the steps they can take to mitigate the risks.

Employer responsibilities

In accordance with OSHA’s general duty clause, employers are obligated to protect workers from recognized hazards, of which poor visibility and moving traffic are two. And while the American National Standard for High-Visibility Apparel (ANSI/ISEA 107-1999) is voluntary, it offers important guidelines that help employers protect workers who are exposed to hazards of low visibility.

Employers should begin by conducting regular hazard assessments to ensure their workers are adequately protected. Some questions to ask include:

  • Is the background workers are against simple or complex?

  • Do the garments we use provide 360-degree visibility?

  • Do the garments offer excellent visibility during day and night?

  • Do the traffic and/or visibility hazards change throughout a worker’s shift?

  • Are the garments appropriate for the climate and weather conditions?

  • Do employees understand why they are required to wear high-visibility apparel?

It’s also a good idea to provide worker training. This includes not just high-visibility apparel and its importance in occupational safety, but also how to maintain a safe work atmosphere around traffic (including on a worksite), streets, and highways. When workers understand why they’re being asked to do something, they’re far more likely to comply and take it seriously.

Conclusion

High-visibility clothing aims to protect workers by making them more visible – to the public and to drivers on the worksite. But it’s only useful if the correct class of apparel is used, and it takes a combined effort from workers and employers alike to ensure that every worker is easy to spot and returns home safely after a day (or night) at work.