Promote Roadside Safety with a Class 3 Safety Vest

Road workers, utility workers and construction crews are often spotted working near busy roads. This is usually because they are wearing brightly colored safety gear like a class 3 safety vest. The unfortunate truth however is that not all workers are seen until it’s too late. Every year there are tens of thousands of accidents occurring in work zones, resulting in hundreds of worker injuries and fatalities. These serve as a reminder of the dangers of working near bust roadways. 

One of the most important aspects of work zone safety is visibility. When workers are highly visible, not only does it lower the instance of accidental injury on the job but it also makes motorists more aware of where workers are when passing job sites. The key to visibility is having enough brightly colored and reflective material on a person at all times. That’s why the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) devised multiple classes of safety apparel.

Class 1 safety apparel is the most basic standard and is not rated for road work environments. Class 2 safety apparel is designed for use on lower speed roadways where speed limits range from 25 to 50 mph. These garments are ideal for most people working on roadways. Class 3 safety apparel is intended for high risk environments where traffic exceeds 50 mph. These garments have the highest level of visibility and ANSI requires any class three garments to be visible from a minimum distance of 1,280 feet.

A Class 3 safety vest is a great way to ensure you have maximum visibility even when working on a road where traffic speeds are less than 50 mph. It’s always better to be overdressed for safety. The beauty of a vest is that it can be worn easily over other clothing without adding excess weight or bulk and it can easily be stored in a work vehicle for quick access.

No matter what kind of work you do on or near roadways, a class 3 safety vest is a simple option that can save your life. Always be sure drivers can see you at all times. The best way to stay safe is to be aware of your surroundings, and to be sure your surroundings are aware of you.

If you have questions about class three safety vests or the ANSI system of safety apparel standards, give us a call at 1-800-429-0954, our friendly staff would be glad to help you.