Workers who spend their days in a cubicle with a computer rarely face real danger. Other than open file cabinet drawers, there is little chance of actually being injured or killed. Put that same cubicle next to a crowded, busy freeway however and it rapidly becomes apparent why a good traffic safety vest is so vitally important. For highway workers, good visibility can make the difference between a normal day and one ending in an ambulance.

Not Meant For Fashion

Although they rarely appear on high fashion magazine covers, these clothing items are uniquely functional. Safe and protective outerwear has not always been mandatory. When it first appeared around forty years ago, worker injuries due to highway accidents declined and as a result, today’s highway maintenance employees are required to wear them at all times. They are commonly constructed of a polyester/nylon blend fabric with reflective striping added for extra visibility.

Up To Standards

Two governmental bodies are largely responsible for creating and upholding the safety standards applied to these garments including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and a worldwide regulatory group called the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). They have the job of revising old standards and creating new ones that include high water and fire resistance as well as excellent visibility.

Due to differing professional needs, there are a variety of designs available. Each item must meet certain quality benchmarks, including sturdy construction and durable fabric. Each must also pass a number of hurdles, including maximum brightness, resistance to color fading and a demonstrably long life. Even the reflective strips are evaluated critically by an objective third party before being approved.

Different ANSI Classes

Today, there are separate types of vests used in differing work environments. Class 1 is worn by low-risk workers such as parking lot attendants and some off-road maintenance workers. The second type, Class 2, is often worn by crossing guards and other control officers in environments where vehicle speed is usually under 25 miles per hour. Class 3 is for the most hazardous jobs where oncoming vehicles are travelling in excess of 50 miles per hour.

Colors

The dyes used to color this protective clothing must be highly visible from a distance. They commonly include fluorescent tones of lime green, yellow and most commonly, orange. Emergency personnel often wear blue to make them easily discernible at the scene of an accident. Security workers, police officers and firefighters often have their professional title printed on the garment for quick job identification.

Which Do You Need?

Those responsible for ordering this protective clothing usually check for the latest governmental standards, which are constantly being updated. In this age of increased urban terrorist activity, there are even protective vests designed for those who are part of a special incident response command team. Other specialized garments have been designed specifically for use in areas that commonly experience wild extremes of weather.

For those who may wish to buy a vest for outdoor recreational visibility, it is important to remember that not all high visibility safety vest have been certified by ANSI. Be careful to avoid buying a vest, for example, that simply has some reflective tape added by the seller. To guarantee the highest visibility and best protection, wearing a traffic safety vests that has been thoroughly vetted in a real world setting is the best choice.