High-Visibility & Personal Protective Equipment
Occupational safety is a concern of every business and industry. International standards support it, national and local policies reinforce it, and there are agencies and private organizations that help workplaces comply with these standards and legislations.
However, safety isn’t a one-size-fits-all intervention. For instance, a common safety measure in many workplaces is the use of high-visibility clothing and personal protective equipment or PPE. Though this is a common practice, one company cannot simply use what another company uses. Rather, companies must make sure that the qualities of the gear and PPE they choose are fit for their job’s hazard profile and other factors that affect their safety while on duty.
Type O - Safety garments under the Type O classification are made for off-road jobs. Off-road jobs include those that expose workers to vehicles and heavy equipment moving at a speed of under 25 miles per hour.
Some examples of Type O industries and jobs are residential and non-residential construction, correctional institutions, and warehouse and delivery jobs. These jobs often require the use of what are called the Class 1 and Class 2 garments, like enhanced-visibility shirts and sweatshirts.
Type R - The “R” in Type R stands for "roadway". Garments under this type are for roadway use or those jobs that entail exposure to vehicles or equipment moving at a speed of under 50 mph. Because of the higher level of struck-by hazards in these jobs, they require either a Class 2 or Class 3 pieces of clothing like high-visibility vests and breakaway vests.
Type P - Type P garments are for public safety workers, such as law enforcers, incident responders, and the like. Compared with Type O and Type R jobs, public safety jobs entail exposure to vehicles moving at 50 mph or higher, which is why visibility is a crucial concern for them.
Some examples of ANSI-compliant safety garments for Type P jobs are Class 3 high-visibility and flame-resistant clothing and vests specially designed for incident responders.
Visit Engineer Warehouse for a complete collection of PPE and safety accessories for workers.
However, safety isn’t a one-size-fits-all intervention. For instance, a common safety measure in many workplaces is the use of high-visibility clothing and personal protective equipment or PPE. Though this is a common practice, one company cannot simply use what another company uses. Rather, companies must make sure that the qualities of the gear and PPE they choose are fit for their job’s hazard profile and other factors that affect their safety while on duty.
Types of High-Visibility Clothing
In the USA, there are three general classifications of high-visibility clothing. Explained by the American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Accessories or the ANSI/ISEA 107-2015, these classifications include the Type O, Type R, and Type P high-visibility clothing.Type O - Safety garments under the Type O classification are made for off-road jobs. Off-road jobs include those that expose workers to vehicles and heavy equipment moving at a speed of under 25 miles per hour.
Some examples of Type O industries and jobs are residential and non-residential construction, correctional institutions, and warehouse and delivery jobs. These jobs often require the use of what are called the Class 1 and Class 2 garments, like enhanced-visibility shirts and sweatshirts.
Type R - The “R” in Type R stands for "roadway". Garments under this type are for roadway use or those jobs that entail exposure to vehicles or equipment moving at a speed of under 50 mph. Because of the higher level of struck-by hazards in these jobs, they require either a Class 2 or Class 3 pieces of clothing like high-visibility vests and breakaway vests.
Type P - Type P garments are for public safety workers, such as law enforcers, incident responders, and the like. Compared with Type O and Type R jobs, public safety jobs entail exposure to vehicles moving at 50 mph or higher, which is why visibility is a crucial concern for them.
Some examples of ANSI-compliant safety garments for Type P jobs are Class 3 high-visibility and flame-resistant clothing and vests specially designed for incident responders.
Choosing the Right High Vis Clothing
To choose the most fitting safety clothing and PPE for workers, it’s important to first understand the hazard profile of one’s job and the level of protection it demands. Upon knowing and assessing this information, employers can procure safety apparel that fits their needs as well as the standards they must meet.Visit Engineer Warehouse for a complete collection of PPE and safety accessories for workers.
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