Visibility is a critical issue for worker safety, particularly when workers are performing tasks near moving vehicles or equipment. Struck-by incidents contributed to 804 construction worker fatalities between 2011 and 2015. Of these fatalities, 57% occurred in work zones, 114 were the result of being struck by a passenger vehicle, and 112 workers died after being struck by a truck.
This is where high-visibility safety gear comes into play. By drawing attention to workers, hi-vis safety gear helps prevent on-the-job injuries and fatalities.
A hazard assessment should be done at every worksite to determine the risk of workers being hit by moving vehicles or equipment and the environmental conditions under which they are working. While the first line of defense is to reduce worker exposure to these risks, equipping workers with hi-vis safety apparel is a critical step to protecting them from worksite accidents.
OSHA rules mandate that employees exposed to public vehicular traffic must be provided with and wear high-visibility vests or other suitable garments. But with several categories of hi-vis apparel, how do you know which to choose?
Type O Safety Vest
Type O high visibility apparel is Class 1 gear, which provides the minimum amount of reflective materials required to visually differentiate the wearer from non-complex backgrounds. Type O gear is appropriate where vehicle and equipment speeds don’t exceed 25 mph and there is ample separation between workers and vehicular traffic.
Applications where Type O hi-vis apparel may be appropriate include:
- Warehouses
- Mining
- PetroChem
Check out our free guide on Understanding the New ANSI-ISEA 10
7-2015 Standard for High Visibility Apparel!
Type R Safety Vest
This type of gear may be Class 2 or 3 safety apparel. Class 2 uses additional high visibility materials to define the human form more effectively, while Class 3 offers greater worker visibility through a full range of body motions and where the background is more complex. A sleeveless garment (like a vest) can be Class 2 but cannot be Class 3.
Applications for Class 2 hi-vis safety apparel include:
- Roadway construction
- Municipal work
- Airline ramp personnel
Applications for Class 3 hi-vis safety apparel include:
- Flaggers
- Department of Transportation work
- Night-time work
- Municipal or state work
Type P Safety Vest
Type P high visibility apparel may be Class 2 or 3 and provides visual conspicuity during both day and night operations. It is particularly well suited for emergency responders and law enforcement personnel who work in environments with exposure to traffic, including temporary traffic control zones. Type P hi-vis safety apparel provides additional options for workers who have competing hazards or require access to special equipment.
Applications where Type P apparel is suitable include:
- Police work
- Firefighting
- Emergency medical response
Which Type of Safety Vest Is Right for Your Job?
There is no single right choice when it comes it selecting high visibility safety apparel – there’s only the right choice for you.
Conducting a risk assessment will give you a great starting point for figuring out which type of gear is best suited for your application. And be sure to review ANSI 107-2015 visibility requirements to make sure you are compliant and your workers are safe.
Ready to learn more? Check out our free webinar on Hi-Vis Apparel for Construction and Contractors!
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