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High visibility clothing highlights a person that is obscured due to environmental conditions making the subject discernible in all conditions. Colours used for high-vis clothing are fluorescent yellow, orange/red, or lime. These colours stand out much better, especially at night and in other conditions of low visibility. The colours increase visibility, as the human eye responds better to brighter colours, providing more safety as it allows other people to respond accordingly in accident susceptibility areas. Have a look at the following to understand high-vis clothing and its type better;
Types of High-visibility Clothing
High-visibility clothing is of three types.
Type O
This is for the off-road occupational users to provide visual enhancement during the day and night. This is used by location workers, extraction workers, or mining workers.
Type P
Type P or public safety is for law enforcement like police and first responders. These are usually bright yellow or lime coloured.
Type R
This is for visual enhancement of roadway workers like for construction or transportation workers against traffic exposure, roadway TTC zones, or construction equipment.
Grades of High Visibility Clothing
High vis clothing is further differentiated through a class system that depends on the reflective material and contrast they offer.
Class 1
These are for those working in low-impact areas where traffic flow is not more than a specific critical value as it provides the lowest recognized coverage. One hundred fifty-five square inches of reflective tape is a minimum requirement.
Class 2
This is used for workers in heavier traffic rush, where speed limits are between 25-50 mph, with poor visibility. It has 201 square inches of reflective tape, offering moderate body coverage and superior visibility.
Class 3
When workers are closed to heavy-traffic areas exceeding 50mph, having visibility of approximately zero, class 3 clothing is used as it offers more coverage and visibility. Class 2 and 3 are particularly for industrial workplaces.
Costs of High Visibility Clothing
Hi-vis clothing is expensive due to its limited demand, expensive production, and high cost of dying. The defined parameters for colours and luminosity for these clothing must be fulfilled. Additionally, it provides many other benefits like flame and water resistance, durability, flexibility, and comfort, which increases its cost. The Australian standard for hi-vis clothing an employee use is AS/NZS4399. The average cost is about 15$ for singlets, but when talking about jackets, it is in the range of 120$.
High-vis clothing is part of personal protective or health equipment (PPE). This clothing is in particular for the torso and arms of the body but also available for lower areas of the body, having reflective tapes on them. High visibility clothing is a must when working on highways and other construction areas where accidents or other hazardous circumstances prevail. These include airport workers, road workers, hunters, electrical workers, accident site investigators, factory personnel, and security guards. Moving machinery is involved in these areas, and wearing appropriate high-vis clothing can save an employee from an untoward incident.
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