Picture this: you’re minding your own business on the jobsite when all of a sudden you look up and notice headlights moving towards you.

You wave your arms, signalling the truck to stop, but the driver can’t see you under the foggy conditions.

You’re able to get yourself out of the way in the nick of 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, or hit by moving cars on the roadway.

But as with all PPE, it’s not simply a matter of wearing hi-vis gear – it’s about wearing the right type.

Hi-Vis Clothing Basics

High-visibility clothing should be used in any work environment that has:

  • Poor lighting
  • Poor weather conditions
  • Moving vehicles or 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.

Hi-Vis Classes

To make sure you’re using the right type of hi-vis gear, it’s important to assess the risks on site. The job environment and its hazards will determine which class of hi-vis clothing you need.

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

  • Traffic exceeds 50 mph
  • High task loads in wide range of weather conditions
  • Examples: road construction workers, utility workers, emergency responders, survey crews, accident site investigators

Key Points for Workers to Note

  • Always wear high-visibility gear when visibility is poor or vehicles are in operation (even if you’ll “only be a second” – a second is all it takes for an incident to happen)
  • Understand the different classes of hi-vis apparel and when they’re needed (wearing the wrong type means you might not be sufficiently visible to drivers and equipment operators)
  • If the weather changes during the course of your shift, your hi-vis needs might as well (wear the hi-vis gear to be on the safe side or keep it handy so you can put it on if the visibility changes)
  • Stay vigilant – hi-vis gear makes you more visible but it doesn’t guarantee others will see you

Employer Responsibilities

In accordance with OSHA’s general duty clause, employers are obligated to protect workers from recognized hazards, including poor visibility and moving traffic. And while the American National Standard for High-Visibility Apparel (ANSI/ISEA 107-2020) is voluntary, it offers important guidelines for protecting workers in low visibility work environments.

Employers should conduct 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 used provide 360-degree visibility?
  • Do the garments offer excellent visibility during day and night?
  • Do the traffic or visibility hazards change throughout a worker’s shift?
  • Are the garments appropriate for the climate and weather conditions?
  • Do employees understand why they’re required to wear high-visibility apparel?

Conclusion

High-visibility clothing aims to protect workers by making them more visible – to the public and to equipment operators on the worksite. But it’s only useful if the correct class of apparel is used.

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.