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Originally Posted On: https://www.hi-viz.com/blogs/safety/5-tips-for-choosing-high-visibility-coveralls-for-safety
Working in construction can be a dangerous job, with over 7,660 deaths recorded in this industry every year. One way to help keep people in this field safe is through the use of high-visibility clothing.
This type of clothing is crucial for people working in places near moving cars or machinery. High visibility clothing like coveralls and safety vests keep you noticed by those around you and help reduce the chances of an accident.
If you’re in the market for high visibility clothing, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re covering everything you need to know about choosing the best high visibility coveralls and safety vests.
What Is High Visibility Clothing?
High visibility coveralls and safety vests help people recognize you from a distance, even when it is dark out. These clothing items use bright colors and reflective properties to help people stand out.
The concept of high visibility clothing comes from how animals react to bright colors in the wild. Animals naturally use bright colors as a warning sign.
Most animals avoid bright colors because it signals harm. Bright colors are hard to miss and easy to recognize as a threat.
This same idea applies to high visibility clothing. When people working in dangerous jobs wear bright, reflective clothing, people are more apt to notice them. This reduces the chance they are hit or injured on the job.
High Visibility Clothing Regulations
Before going out and buying high visibility clothing, you have to check in on your state’s safety regulations. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) determines the rules regarding who needs to wear this type of clothing and what requirements they need to uphold.
Most people working jobs that expose them to moving equipment, traffic, or other similar hazards will need to wear coveralls or other protective coverings of some kind.
Many of the people who fall under this category work in the following fields:
Public safety workers
Utility workers
Maintenance crews
Warehouse workers
Construction workers
There are several types of classes that each profession falls into. Each class has different high visibility clothing requirements.
Class 1 Garments
You fall into this category if you work in a location that is close to traffic but not directly exposed to it. You’ll also fall into this category if your worksite is not complex.
These have the least amount of reflective material on them. Garments in this category need a minimum of 155 square inches of reflective surface on them.
Class 2 Garments
You’ll wear a Class 2 garment if you work in a location with traffic going between 25mph and 50mph. They are easier to see in both daytime and nighttime and at a farther distance than the Class 1 garments.
Class 2 clothing has the same 155 square inches of reflective surface, but it is at least one inch wide. This clothing also has a minimum of 217 square inches of bright background color.
Class 3 Garments
The final class of high visibility clothing is for people who work in the most dangerous conditions. People working in locations where cars travel over 50 mph wear Class 3 clothing.
Each Class 3 garment has at least 201 square inches of reflective material. It also needs to have at least 540 square inches of bright background material included.
One of the best types of clothing in this category is high visibility coveralls. Coveralls cover your entire body, keeping you warm and safe.
Tips for Choosing High Visibility Coveralls, Safety Vests, and More
High visibility coveralls and safety vests aren’t one-size-fits-all garments. There are different considerations to take before selecting the choice that is best for you.
- Choosing the Right Product
Once you know which class of items you need, make sure to pick a garment that has the features you need. When choosing high visibility coveralls, choose one that has pockets that are deep and sturdy enough for all your tools.
- Color choice
Although you may want a certain color for your coveralls, there are only certain colors that meet regulations. ANSI requires that this clothing be one of three colors for it to be compliant. You can wear safety yellow, safety orange, or bright red.
These colors are the best options because of how vibrant they are. They contrast against many backgrounds and help you to stand out.
- Weather
When deciding on which clothing to purchase, keep the climate in mind. If you live in a colder climate, choosing a high visibility coverall will keep you warm and covered. In addition, high visibility shirts are perfect for those who work in the warmer weather.
- Customization
One of the best ways to represent your business is by creating a custom safety vest or high visibility coverall with your logo on it. The point of this kind of clothing is to stand out, so what better way to represent your company than with this feature?
If you decide to order a safety vest with a logo, make sure the logo doesn’t get in the way of the reflective material. There are also certain rules that ANSI has about how big the logo can be.
- Material
Each high visibility coverall will have at least two types of materials on them: the reflective material and the fluorescent material. You’ll usually find this bright clothing made from materials that can handle extra wear and tear.
Polyester is a common material people use in high visibility clothes. This material can keep up with tough work in many jobs needing high reflective clothes demand.
Retroreflective materials are another choice for safety vests and coveralls. This type of material does best for night work.
Stay Safe and Stylish with Custom High Visibility Clothing
Wearing safety clothing like high visibility coveralls and safety vests in certain jobs can keep you safe from injury or death. Although there are regulations around this type of clothing, you can still represent your business with logos and customization.
If you’re looking to customize your clothing, Hi-Viz is here to help! We have all of your ANSI Class 1, 2, and 3 customized clothing needs. Check out our selection today!
