High Visibility Clothing
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) have published the ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 standard which specifies different classes of high visibility safety garments based on wearer's activities. This standard was developed in response to workers who are exposed to low visibility conditions in hazardous work zones.
ANSI/ISEA have also recently published the ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests which establishes design, performance specifications and use criteria for highly visible vests that are used by law enforcement, emergency responders, fire officials, and DOT personnel. This public safety vest standard was created in response to public safety user group demand in 2005 for a high visibility safety vest garment differentiated from ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 compliant apparel. The primary concern was a need for flexibility of designs that would provide tactical capability not achievable with ANSI 107 garments. Law enforcement and emergency responders that would be distinct from ANSI 107 to avoid interchangeability with other high visibility vests.
ANSI/ISEA Approved High Visibility Clothing:There are three classes of garments specified in the standard that are based on the wearer's activities.
Class 3: These garments provide the highest level of conspicuity for workers and have the greatest visibility of the three classes. These will have more retroreflective material used in its construction than the Class 2 and it must have sleeves with retroreflective material between the shoulders and elbow. Class 3 approved high visibility clothing are for workers with high task loads in a wide range of weather conditions where traffic exceeds 50 mph. The standard "recommends these garments for all roadway construction personnel, vehicle operators, utility workers, survey crews, emergency responders, railway workers and accident site investigators". Our Mesh Safety Vests and High Visibility Rain Jackets are great sellers for those requiring the highest visibility level.
Class 2:These garments have superior visibility and are more conspicuous than the Class 1 garments. The minimum width of the retroreflective material used on these is not less than 35mm. Class 3 garments are for workers who work near roadways where traffic exceeds 25 mph and need greater visibility in inclement weather. Workers who would typically wear these garments are: railway workers, school crossing guards, parking and toll gate personnel, airport ground crews and law enforcement personnel directing traffic. The Surveyor's Vest is our most popular economical safety vest. The majority of our safety vests are ANSI class 2 approved.
Class 1: These garments need to be conspicuous and use retroreflective materials not less than 25mm in width. Class 1 garments are worn by workers where traffic does not exceed 25 mph and there is ample separation from the traffic. These workers typically are parking service attendants, warehouse workers in equipment traffic, shopping cart retrievers and those doing sidewalk maintenance. We also offer a large selection of high visibility clothing for those who don't require ANSI approval.