Why wear a safety vest?
The purpose of a safety vest is to enhance the visibility of workers on a job site or in traffic. Using safety vests aid in the prevention of injury to workers. Wearing safety vests will help to keep workers safe. A safety vest should be very visible to the human eye from various distances. Concrete Products PRO Supplies has many different styles and colors to meet worker needs.
What are the types of safety vests?
Safety vests have a classification of either Type One, Type Two, or Type Three. These classifications are based on the amount of reflective material used in the production of the safety vest. Vests are also classified according to the high contrast (different colors) incorporated into the fabric of the vests. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) was created to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by establishing and enforcing standards by creating training, outreach, education, and assistance in the use of safety vests. ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, sets the standards of safety vests for the United States. These vests are usually bright yellow or orange in color.
Type 1 safety vests are used for those working in low impact areas. This includes areas around traffic where traffic flow does not exceed 25 mph. Type 1 safety vests are for those workers who will be working away from the main traffic flow. Parking attendants, roadside assistance personnel, and delivery drivers are examples of workers in the Class 1 category. This vest will have a minimum of 155 square inches of reflective tape incorporated into the vest. There are specific dimensions of the reflective tape set forth by the standards. Stripes should be around the middle and above each shoulder.
Type 2 safety vests are used by workers near heavier traffic. They are used in areas where visibility is low and where the maximum speed of traffic does not exceed 25 mph. Some examples of workers using a Type 2 vest are high volume parking attendants, toll booth operators, airport workers, and those working in a forest setting. The Class 2 vest must have a minimum of 201 square inches of reflective tape incorporated into the vest. Stripes will be around the middle and over the shoulders.
Type 3 safety vests are used by workers in high traffic settings. Traffic speeds in these areas will be up to but not to exceed 50 mph. A worker will use a Type 3 safety vest when the worker is working next to the road or in a hazardous area. Workers using a Type 3 safety vest will be highly visible to prevent injuries. A Class 3 vest should have a minimum of 310 square inches of reflective tape incorporated into the vest. Workers will have a complete silhouette outline of the worker so that a car’s headlights approaching the worker will make it clearly evident that the person is working the road. The Class 3 vests are designed to exceed the Class 1 and Class 2 vests.
Other colors of safety vests.
Different colors of vests may be used to distinguish the difference between the levels of employees on a job site. A supervisor may wear one color, and a manager may wear another color.
Inspect vests daily.
Like any other piece of safety gear, make sure the employee inspects the safety vest for any defects every day before using the vest. Replace all worn out vests before the workday begins.
Concrete Products PRO can assist with all your safety vest needs.
Contact Concrete Products PRO and they will assist you with any type of safety vest for any project. Wearing the correct safety vest is essential to the welfare of the worker and the company. Ensure that all of your employees are wearing the right vest for the specific job. Come by or call our store today and let our experts help you with any safety vest needed for any project.