Why Are Safety Vests Required By OSHA?

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The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires workers who may be exposed to vehicular traffic hazards to wear safety vests or other high-visibility safety apparel. OSHA guidelines refer to American National Standards Institute standard 107, which was developed and published by the International Safety Equipment Association. Find out why OSHA requires workers in high-risk environments to wear brightly colored garments made with retroreflective materials and learn more about the requirements for warning vests in ANSI/ISEA 107-.

Why OSHA Requires Safety Vests

The General Duty Clause of OSHA or OSH Act, 29 U.S.C. §654(a)(1) requires flaggers and other workers exposed to vehicle traffic in construction zones, on excavation sites or on highways to wear high-visibility safety apparel. Bright vests with retroreflective designs can help drivers of motor vehicles or operators of equipment see workers near the path of travel.

One specific OSHA requirement for warning vests is in the construction standard Subpart G, 29 CFR .201 on signaling. This standard states that garments for flaggers must conform to Part 6 of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The section on Temporary Traffic Control in the MUTCD states that all workers exposed to traffic, including emergency responders, must wear Class 2 or Class 3 vests and garments.

Another relevant federal standard is the Federal Highway Administration rule for Worker Visibility, 23 CFR Part 634. This rule mandates that all workers exposed to traffic or construction equipment within the right-of-way of a federal-aid highway wear safety vests or other HVSA.

Safety Vest Requirements

Safety Vest Required Signs

The OSHA construction standard on signaling recommends that flaggers wear red or orange warning garments and specifies that garments worn at night should be made of reflectorized material. This regulation refers to an early ANSI standard, D6.1-1-, that has since been updated.

A OSHA interpretation of the .201 standard refers to the Millennium Edition of the MUTCD, which allows for a wider range of color choices. During the day, flaggers can wear safety vests in orange, yellow or strong yellow-green, or fluorescent versions of these colors. At night, flaggers should wear garments made with retroreflective materials in any of these colors, silver or white. Employers can post an OSHA notice or other signs to remind workers to wear warning vests.

While OSHA does not specify a specific type of garment, fasteners or reflective strip design, the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard covers all of these requirements. Warning vests and other HVSA should be visible from at least 1,000 feet away and have break-away enclosures. Learn more about the classes of warning vests to select the right high-visibility personal protective equipment.

Safety Vest Classes

According to ANSI/ISEA 107- there are three classes and three types of safety vests, each with different requirements for background and retroreflective material. The classes of vests are based on risk levels in different working environments.

Class 1

Class 1 vests are made with the minimum amount of high-visibility material. These warning vests are only suitable for environments in which struck-by hazards travel at 25 miles per hour or less. The first class of vests are ideal for grocery store clerks who retrieve shopping carts, parking service attendants or warehouse workers.

Class 2

Class 2 is the most common safety vest classification. These vests can increase visibility to a level that is sufficient for roadways with fast traffic during daylight hours. The second class of vests are intended for airport ground crews, crossing guards, law enforcement personnel directing traffic, surveyors and workers in parking facilities or at toll gates.

Class 3

The third class of safety vests provides the highest level of visibility. These garments have sleeves designed with retroreflective material and are suitable for night work in locations that have high-speed traffic. In order to meet OSHA standards, Class 3 vests should be visible from a distance of at least 1,280 feet.

Safety Vest Types

The version of ANSI/ISEA 107 introduced a new categorical scheme for warning vests. A revision in refined the applications for each type of vest. Learn more about the three types of vests and how these types correspond to vest classes.

Type O

Type O equipment consists of Class 1 safety vests designated for off-road usage. These vests must have at least 217 square inches of background material, 155 square inches of retroreflective material and a 1-inch minimum width for retroreflective materials.

Type R

Type R, Class 2 vests are designed to increase the visibility of workers on roadways. These vests must have at least 540 square inches in background material in the smallest size or 775 square inches of background material in larger sizes with 201 square inches of retroreflective material.

Type P

Type P vests for public safety professionals are available in Class 2 or Class 3 designs. Class 2, Type P vests must have 450 square inches of background material and 201 square inches of retroreflective material. Class 3, Type P vests should have at least 775 square inches of background material and 310 square inches of retroreflective materials.

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When To Replace Safety Vests

The Federal Highway Administration estimates a six-month service life for HVSA worn on a daily basis. This PPE can last up to three years with occasional use. For safety, replace any damaged, faded or worn vests and other high-visibility garments.

Warning vests and safety garments should also have a good fit. Vests that are too large could pose a caught-in hazard, while vests that are too tight can be uncomfortable and discourage compliance with safety regulations.

Employers should factor in the classes and types of vests when ordering replacement PPE or setting employee purchase requirements. The ANSI/ISEA 107 standard also provides recommendations for including compliant lettering or logos on HVSA.

Post Signs for Safety Vests

Employers should refer to OSHA regulation 29 CFR .651(d) or other relevant standards to determine whether workers need to wear safety vests and the appropriate class and type of safety vest for any application. Order OSHA notices and signs that remind workers to use high-visibility PPE from ComplianceSigns.

Safety should always be your first priority. When you work in fast paced environment like a warehouse or distribution center, it might be hard to keep track of everything around you. While you don&#;t have eyes in the back of your head to watch out for oncoming vehicles, wearing a Warehouse Safety Vest keeps you visible to others so accidents can be avoided.

Whether you&#;re outfitting your warehouse team, or you are required to provide your own safety vest for working in a warehouse, Safety Depot has all the necessary safety equipment you need. For vests, googles, raingear, and more, safety pros turn to Safety Depot for all of their job safety needs.

Warehouse Safety Vests Save Lives

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the top five places where people get injured in the warehouse are docks, forklifts, conveyors, materials and storage, and mechanical lifting and handling. That&#;s probably most every department in the warehouse. That is why it is so essential to make sure your whole team is equipped with the proper safety materials.

Since the creation of The Occupational Safety and Health Act of , workplace accidents have declined by 42%. OSHA sets the standards for workplace safety and accountability. In fact, if you don&#;t have the proper safety materials available, OSHA can fine a company $7,000 for &#;minor&#; infractions, and up to $70,000 for repeat offenders. When shopping for the proper Warehouse Safety Vest be sure to check with your employer to see what class of vest you are required to wear. Classes and high visibility requirements.

Warehouse Safety Vest Requirements

When it comes to choosing a Warehouse Safety Vest, you may have a lot of questions. There are 3 different classes of safety vests. Each class is based on the speed of traffic around you. For a warehouse, there is a decent amount of traffic, but at slower speeds. Wearing safety vests ensures that everyone around you can see you. Even if you&#;re the operator of a vehicle such as a forklift, wearing a safety vest is necessary so the people around you can see someone is operating the vehicle.

For most warehouse workers, you&#;ll need a Class 2 Safety Vest. This provides some enhanced visibility tape, which can allow the people around you to see you in high or low visibility situations. These vests are usually in high visibility colors such as red, or orange.

While wearing a vest at work may seem intrusive and unflattering, it is there to save your life. Many vests have a breakaway function. If you are caught on something, removing the vest is easy. Make sure your vest fits your body properly. A vest that is too small will make you less noticeable. A vest that is too large is likely to get caught on equipment.

Outfit Your Whole Warehouse Team

If you want to ensure that your entire warehouse team is up to OSHA safety standards, so your business does not get fined, supply your whole warehouse team with warehouse safety vests from Safety Depot. Providing a simple and standard uniform for your employees can benefit you in many ways.

Setting a regular dress code that includes the provided safety vest gives your staff a standard of familiarity. They will know how to recognize other workers even from their peripheral vision. Designate supervisors from machine operators with different colors to provide an easy to follow hierarchy for your staff. Not only that, when you provide a Warehouse Safety Vest for every employee, you guarantee safety standards are met. You won&#;t be held accountable for anyone wearing the wrong class of vest.

Although many find uniformity restricting, creating a regular uniform can promote a team mentality. Give your team identity and pride when you order custom logoed safety vests from Safety Depot. Since our projects are all done in house, you can expect fast quotes, fast turnaround time, and rapid response with flexible adjustments. Custom printing is also available on t-shirts, jackets, and hardhats.

Order Your Warehouse Safety Vest From Safety Depot Today

Safety Depot is a veteran-owned company specializing in safety materials since . We meet national standards and requirements on all of our safety vests. Whether you need a Warehouse Safety Vest for yourself, or you&#;re looking to outfit your whole team, Safety Depot is your safety source. Contact us to learn more about our products or custom printing for your safety vests today.

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