High-visibility safety gear is an integral part of many people’s workday. Whether they work outdoors, at night, or in high-risk situations, making themselves visible can make all the difference in avoiding injury. In fact, high-visibility gear is so important that national laws requires that all workers in a wide range of professions to ensure that they are visible when on the road. Fortunately, the options for safety equipment are expanding as well. Here’s a look at some facets of selecting high-visibility clothes.
Who Needs It
In general, this type of clothing is worn by people who work near or in traffic, even on private roads. Here are some of the main professions for which bright clothes are part of the equipment.
- Construction workers on roadways
- School crossing guards
- Accident site investigators
- Parking lot attendants
- Emergency response workers and law enforcement
- Surveying crews and utility workers
- Railway employees
- Warehouse employees
Clothing Options
For workers who need an entire garment made of bright materials or retro reflective fabric, there are many choices. It should be noted, however, that head-to-toe high-visibility gear is not usually warranted. Some of the most common options among personal protective equipment are:
- Vests:These are the go-to garment for safety. They are easy to slip on and off, they are lightweight, and they are an inexpensive solution. Vests come in many bright colors with different configurations for stripes and retro reflective accents.
- Pants:These may be made of a heavy water-resistant material as part of a set of the rain gear, or they can be more lightweight for warm summer days. The retro reflective striping on the pants may be around the calf or down the sides, and there are a variety of different fits available.
- Shirts:High-visibility shirts may take the form of polos or T-shirts, depending on the usage. If the additional layer of a vest is too much weight, a light shirt might be a better option for safety gear.
- Accessories:Everything from gloves to hats to helmets may be found in a range of high-visibility colors for workplace safety.
- Cold weather gear:Many workers have to toil in extreme weather. Therefore, high-visibility rain gear, parkas, fleece garments, and overalls are just a few of the options available for those situations.
Choose Wisely
The balancing act between being safe and being comfortable can be a challenge for many workers who are required to wear high-visibility clothing. Especially in extreme hot or cold, it can be tough to find the sweet spot between following safety rules and hitting an ideal body temperature. Here are some of the advanced features workers can find in high-visibility format:
- Brightly colored, moisture-wicking shirts
- Raincoats that have removable liners
- Heat-transfer reflective material used in shirts
- Hooded sweatshirts featuring color blocking
Employees who work in traffic need a higher level of personal protective equipment. Manufacturers offer plenty of options that allow workers to be compliant with safety rules but still comfortable. Employees can choose a simple vest or look beyond that to the more specialized garments. Either way, they can find personal safety gear that’s ideal for their worksites
By bluehost.