Page 93 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2018

HOW can workers get the most out of their apparel?
Choosing the right high-visibility clothing for the job per the ANSI standard is a good first step to preventing injuries on a work site. But workers must use the garments and care for them. Manufactur- ers typically offer a variety of options—within the various ANSI performance classes and garment types—to cater to user prefer- ences and improve the likelihood that garments get worn.
Snow or rain or heat or gloom of night
Environmental conditions that workers face on a daily basis should be a major consideration in clothing selection so as to maxi- mize use. Vests and short-sleeve shirts can keep workers cool in the heat, while long-sleeve shirts can provide additional warmth in cooler conditions and outerwear and rainwear can block out cold, wind, and rain. Some features that workers appreciate include:
■ Wicking material to improve dryness against the skin
■ Wider neck openings for comfort and breathability
■ Drawstrings or adjustable straps at the waist for a custom fit
■ Breaks in reflective tape at side seams to allow for extra
stretch
■ Mesh for breathability
■ D-ring slot for connectivity to a harness for fall protection
■ Fitted styles for women or smaller body shapes
■ Hook & loop or zippered closure options
Pick a pocket or two—or ten
Convenience is also critical to getting worker “buy-in” to wear
high-visibility apparel. Your supplier should offer a range of stan- dard storage configurations and options (as well as customization
capability) encompassing:
■ Pockets—standard, oversized, interior and exterior, with or
without closures
■ Mic tabs on shoulders
■ Phone pockets with sealable flaps in sizes to store smaller
cell phones to tablet-sized electronics
■ Pen slots, interior or on chest
Some jobs call for specific styles of high-vis apparel. Workers in
especially hazardous environments may need enhanced safety fea- tures. Five-point breakaway clothing styles, for instance, are critical for those working close to moving vehicles or equipment.
A Note on Service Life Expectancy
All high-visibility products have a limited lifetime that varies with use. It’s the responsibility of safety professionals, employers, and the wearer to periodically evaluate each garment’s required visibility and replace it when it fades, tears, or is overly dirty. If the apparel isn’t visible at 1,000 feet—day or night—it’s best to make a change.
If a garment is worn on a daily basis, the useful life is probably around six months. Clothing not worn on a daily basis is expected to have a useful life of up to one year.
Audrey Ronis-Tobin, MBA, is responsible for marketing communi- cations and the launch of new products at West Chester Protective Gear. If you have additional questions about high-visibility stan- dards or apparel options, contact West Chester Protective Gear at 1-800-647-1900.
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