Safety Requirements Call for Maximum Worker Visibility

Visibility is critical on roadways. The sooner a driver or a heavy equipment operator sees a worker on foot, the more likely that a struck-by incident can be avoided. High-visibility apparel, meeting the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard, serves as a critical first line of defense to protect workers against being struck.
The ANSI/ISEA 107 standard established criteria for garments using fluorescent and retroreflective materials to enhance the visibility of the wearer both during the day and under illumination by vehicle headlights at night. Fluorescent materials enhance daytime visibility, especially during dawn and dusk.
The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) is the trade association for companies that manufacture safety and personal protective equipment. Member companies are world leaders in the design and manufacture of protective clothing and equipment including high visibility apparel. ISEA is also the secretariat for many safety product standards including ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 – American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear.
Regulations concerning the use of high-visibility apparel have been considerably strengthened over recent years.
The 2006 edition of the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) states that “all workers exposed to the risks of moving roadway traffic or construction equipment should wear high-visibility safety apparel meeting the requirements of ISEA American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel (see Section 1A.11), or equivalent revisions, and labeled as ANSI 107-1999 standard performance for Class 1, 2, or 3 risk exposure. A competent person designated by the employer to be responsible for the worker safety plan within the activity area of the job site should make the selection of the appropriate class of garment.” It should be noted that ANSI/ISEA Class 3 garments are generally considered the best practice when maximum worker visibility is desired.
The requirements for flaggers are even stronger, with the 2006 edition of the TMUTCD stating that “for daytime and nighttime activities, flaggers shall wear safety apparel meeting the requirements of ANSI/ ISEA 107 – American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel (see Section 1A.11), or equivalent revisions, and labeled as meeting the ANSI 107-1999 standard performance for Class 2 risk exposure.” The 2006 editions also states that for nighttime activity, safety apparel meeting the requirements for Class 3 risk exposure should be considered for flagger wear (instead of the Class 2 safety apparel in the standard above). A revision of the MUTCD is expected this year.
In November 2008 a federal rule went into effect requiring that all workers within the right of way of a federal-aid highway who are exposed either to traffic (vehicles using the highway for purposes of travel) or to construction equipment within the work area shall wear high-visibility safety apparel. This same regulation defines high-visibility safety apparel as personal protective safety clothing that “meets the Performance Class 2 or 3 requirement of the ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 publication entitled “American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear.”
TxDOT’s Work Zone Safety and Mobility Guidelines, dated Dec. 4, 2008, also included these provisions. In accordance with these regulations, all workers within the right of way of a federal-aid highway or a Texas state highway must wear high-visibility safety apparel that meets the requirements of ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 for Class 2 or Class 3 exposure.
It’s important that city/county road agencies select safety vests that provide the best visibility and protection for their road crews. Bottom line: Before purchasing a vest, check the manufacturer’s label and make sure it satisfies the latest ANSI/ISEA 107 standard, as described above. And remember that ANSI/ISEA 107, Class 3 garments are generally considered the best practice when maximum worker visibility is desired. H