The Importance of High Visibility for Road Workers

White Paper
The Importance of High Visibility for Road Workers
By Calvin Lee, ICA

Introduction
As the November 2008 deadline approaches for compliance with the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) new high-visibility mandate, it is critical that contractors and other organizations know how they will be affected by the changes. Road workers and other occupations who are faced with the hazards of vehicular traffic in low-visibility conditions, are the primary targets for the standard. High-visibility apparel serves as a first line of defense to protect workers against being struck by a vehicle or piece of equipment operated by someone who otherwise would not be able to see them during the day or at night. Employers should understand the new requirements and the options available to make the best choices for worker safety, compliance and not least, comfort.

New FHWA Mandate
The worker visibility provisions published by FHWA on November 24, 2006 (23 CFR Part 634 Worker Visibility) state that all workers within the right-of-way of a federal-aid highway who are exposed either to traffic or construction equipment within the work area shall wear high-visibility safety apparel that meets the Performance Class 2 or 3 requirements of the American National Standards Institute for High Visibility Apparel (ANSI/ISEA 107-2004). This specification addresses a growing concern for worker safety on the jobsite where workers are exposed to vehicular traffic. According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), struck-by vehicle accidents accounted for 336 fatalities across the nation in 2003. More than 40,000 injuries resulted from motor vehicle crashes in work zones. Road workers are eight times more likely to be injured than the average worker and twice as likely to be hurt as other construction workers.

The federal mandate is an important development because it reflects FHWA's commitment and others within the industry’s knowledge as it regards the need to be seen as a critical issue for worker safety on the highways. It also strongly endorses the value of ANSI 107-2004 as the baseline for helping to protect workers in hazardous roadway conditions.

As employers prepare for the November 2008 compliance deadline, it is important for each to become familiar with the high-visibility safety solutions that are available to satisfy both the regulations and the specific needs of their workers. One of the most important attributes to workers is comfort, and this can be achieved within the ANSI 107 standard if the right garment is chosen for the right application.

ANSI 107 Standard
Prior to the introduction of ANSI/ISEA 107-1999, there was no standard or guideline for the design, performance, or materials for high-visibility apparel in the United States. Although all other items found in a work zone have specific requirements – for example, cones are required to be 28” tall and have reflective bands around them if used at night, barrels have to be 36” tall, have reflective bands (and sometimes lights), and there are specific requirements for signs – what about the most valued resource: the workers? The ANSI/ISEA 107–1999 was developed to identify specific minimum amounts of retroreflective materials, colors, and placement of materials to make the worker more visible on the jobsite. The standard defined three garment classes based on the surface area of background and retroreflective material used to make the garment. The 1999 standard represented an excellent start to place emphasis on worker safety.

Significant changes to the 1999 edition were made in ANSI/ISEA 107-2004, and included 1) the addition of headwear to the list of high-visibility products covered, 2) inclusion of reflective patterns such as logos, 3) the distinction between woven and knitted fabrics as background material, and 4) a general honing of the three garment classes based on the wearer’s activities and exposures, not just the speed of nearby traffic. The 107-2004 standard places the burden on the employer or its designated competent person to conduct and document a hazard assessment of all conditions that a worker or specific tradesperson will face in order to determine the most appropriate level of visibility and type of garment for each worker. The need and requirement to perform an assessment has lead some manufactures of high visibility materials (such as the 3M Corporation) to develop high-visibility assessment tools that are designed to assist the employer by documenting that the assessment was performed, and to help determine the right garment for the exposure. Also as part of the 1999 standard, a worker could achieve a Class 3 level of visibility simply by meeting the combined square inch requirements of the background fluorescent material and retroreflective materials which meant that the size of the vest made all the difference. As part of the 2004 standard, regardless of the area of materials used, a sleeveless garment or vest alone shall not be considered Performance Class 3. Class 3 level of visibility can only be achieved by adding background and reflective materials to the arms and /or the legs. Therefore, Class 3 level can be achieved by 1) wearing a garment with sleeves and retroreflective bands between the shoulder and the elbow, 2) wearing an ensemble of a Class 2 or 3 vest and Class E trousers or shorts. Class E trousers or shorts are described in the standard and must meet the minimum requirements of having a fluorescent background and retroreflective materials.

Garment Selection Criteria
The apparel background (outer) material color shall be either fluorescent orange-red or fluorescent yellow-green as defined in the standard. The retroreflective material shall be orange, yellow, white, silver, yellow-green or a fluorescent version of these colors, and shall be visible at a minimum distance of 300 m (1,000 ft). The retroreflective safety apparel shall be designed to clearly identify the wearer as a person.

The ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 classes of garments are as follows: • Class 1 garments are defined as apparel for use in activities that permit the wearer's full and undivided attention to approaching traffic, with ample separation of workers from traffic and where vehicles and other moving equipment speeds may not exceed 25 mph. Examples of workers who should wear Class 1 garments include parking lot attendants, warehouse workers and delivery vehicle drivers. • Class 2 garments are defined as apparel for use in activities where greater visibility is necessary during inclement weather conditions; activities take place in closer proximity to vehicle traffic, vehicle traffic speeds exceed those of Class 1, or work environment risks exceed those for Class 1. Workers who should wear Class 2 garments include roadway construction workers, utility workers, survey crews, law enforcement officers and accident site investigators. • Class 3 garments, providing the highest level of visibility, are defined as apparel for workers such as roadway construction personnel who are exposed to significantly higher vehicle speeds, emergency response personnel, vehicle operators and roadway construction personnel who face serious hazards and have high task loads that require attention away from their work. These garments should provide enhanced visibility to more of the body, such as the arms and legs, making the wearer conspicuous through the full range of body motions.

Conclusion
As we move further into this high visibility era, it becomes critical that worker protection, regulatory compliance and comfort all be viewed with the same level of importance to ensure that an acceptable level of safety is met. As with all personal protective equipment (PPE), comfort and compliance as they relate to the workers approval of the garment and their tendency to wear it seems to go hand in hand. Usually if it is required and it is comfortable the workers will wear it. I have found that it can be productive to allow the workers to have an active role in the decision-making process regarding safety apparel and other safety issues when they are directly impacted. This practice creates a sense of buy-in to the safety program from the workers perspective. There are documented cases where this practice has led to an overall improvement of a company’s safety program, with a reduced amount of accidents and injuries being the ultimate residual effect.

As we can all agree and has been previously stated, when workers are literally feet away from speeding traffic and separated by only cones, barrels or some other non-permanent fixture, their first line of defense is to be seen. Being seen is also favorable when working near large equipment. Therefore, conscious efforts must be made to ensure that the apparel that is being purchased is not only compliant but is of the desired quality that the workers need and deserve. There have been many studies conducted across the country - including here in the state of Indiana - that can provide an invaluable amount of information regarding manufacturers of high visibility materials, proper placement of striping on garments, the performance as it relates to the brightness of the reflective striping (even after being washed many times) and how the materials perform in adverse conditions, including rain. Although price is a primary consideration when selecting garments it should not drive the selection process.

It is important to remember that ANSI 107 is an apparel standard and allows for a much wider range of choices than just vests. When selecting high-visibility apparel, it is critical to consider specific worker needs: The key is to select apparel that offers optimal visibility plus comfort for daytime, low-light, and nighttime conditions in a variety of work environments. While traditional vests still have a place, they are now being supplemented or replaced with a wide range of other garments. For example, in warm weather, employers can choose garments with reflective materials and ultra-lightweight knit t-shirt type fabrics or blends designed to accelerate the evaporation of body moisture. There are even shirts with striping that have been perforated for coolness and comfort; For cold weather, jackets and parkas that provide enhanced visibility in low-light conditions, as well as maximize comfort, are available. Making the proper selections on the front end can save a lot of time and effort on the back end of having to address issues and concerns.

When it comes to safety, the message is the same and so is the goal. Every effort goes into ensuring that workers return home to their families each evening in the same condition in which they left. Providing workers with safety garments that have the maximum level of quality, visibility and comfort goes a long way toward that end.

References:

OH&S Occupational Health and Safety Magazine
2003 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
ANSI/ISEA 107-2004
Federal Register / Volume 71, No. 226 / Friday, November 24, 2006
Federal Highway Administration
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI)