Page 44 - OHS, September 2020

PPE: CONSTRUCTION
Innovation in Jobsite Safety Vest & Workwear Design
High-visibility vests are underappreciated and underestimated— especially in an industry such as construction.
BY ZACHARY RICHMAN
Often, one of the biggest reasons why workers do not wear PPE is due to the simple fact that it does not fit their needs—either in overall comfort or functionality. When
it comes to PPE, one size does not fit all, so with all the options available, it is more important than ever for safety managers to do their homework when identifying the PPE solutions that they will use to outfit their crews.
When it comes to PPE in the construction industry, many of the biggest manufacturers’ practices include copying the designs of safety products already on the market. This does nothing to help workers. Safety managers need to seek out solutions that are addressing user needs head-on through thoughtful, innovative product design matched with the right materials.
While all types of construction site PPE—from hearing protection to eye protection—have suffered from lack of innovation at one time or another, one category that stands out is high-visibility vests.
High-Visibility Vests & Workwear:
Three Things to Watch Out For
Low visibility can be a serious danger on jobsites, which makes it especially important for companies to invest in high-quality vests and workwear. The ability to be seen is critical for worker safety, especially on construction sites where moving equipment is common. Despite their importance, though, the high-visibility vest space has been quite stagnant
until recently when it comes to meaningful design updates for wearers. To make sure you are equipping your workers with the best high-vis vests that fit their needs, pay attention to these three areas of focus:
Overall Functionality. Now, more than ever, users expect more functionality than they ever did in the past. Previously, vest manufacturers were not designing their solutions with the features that wearers need most. This was in huge part, as we noted above, because they were simply copy/pasting designs already on the market or only making small, incremental updates to those designs. However, some newer manufacturers to the space are starting their research at the most important source—the wearer— and introducing solutions that directly address the needs of those wearers. Look for the following:
1. A variety and breadth of storage. Many workers in the construction trades need to wear multiple hats and carry more tools and accessories than they ever had to before. Vests that provide a wide variety of pockets in multiple sizes allows these workers to accommodate a greater selection of tools.
2. Accommodation for technology. The ‘digital jobsite’ is not a future initiative—it is happening right now. Construction sites are seeing increased usage of wireless devices, yet most vests do not accommodate for this. Today’s vests should be designed to provide storage for devices like tablets and phones. Additionally, these pockets should be reinforced and sealable.
3. The ability to adjust sizing. Unfortunately, many vests are “one size fits all” or, more accurately, “one sizefitsallpoorly.”Lookforveststhatallowwearers to size to their body for a better fit, such as an internal strap for quick and easy sizing adjustments. This will also allow wearers to size up the vest to fit comfortably overajacketincolderconditions.
A Focus on Durability. Vest durability is a frequent complaint with many wearers, especially when it comes to one of the most important vest features: the pockets. Most wearers rip the bottom pockets first due to the weight of their tools and, once a vest’s pockets rip, these wearers often just throw away the vest entirely. Companies want to invest in high-quality vests to meet the ANSI 107 requirements for high visibility garments, so this lack of longevity in some vests can play a major role in negatively affecting a company’s bottom line.
To alleviate this all-too-common complaint, vest pockets should ideally be reinforced with tear-resistant material for better durability. Another major point of durability concern is the pass-through harness hole.
40 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2020
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