Understanding ANSI Can Save Lives
For workers in occupations that require them to work during periods of limited visibility, it is critical that these workers be seen and recognized. To provide guidance for the protection of all those exposed to the hazards of limited visibility, the American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI), approved ANSI/ISEA 107-1999, the American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel, in June 1999.
This ruling establishes design, material,
photometric and physical performance requirements, and care labeling and
marking rules for high visibility garments, defining three colors:
fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, and fluorescent
red. As of Nov. 24, 2008, all workers within the right of way of a
federal-aid highway are required to wear high visibility apparel that meets
the performance requirements of ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Class 2 or Class 3
ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 (public safety vests). The Federal Highway
Administration published the final rule regarding worker visibility as Part
634 of Title 23 (23 CFR part 634) Code of Federal Regulations to reduce the
likelihood of worker fatalities and injuries caused by motor vehicles and
construction equipment on federal-aid highways.
Three classes are specified:
- Class 1: 217 in visible background and 155 in visible reflective. Minimum adequate for certain conditions. Used when workers are separated from traffic, backgrounds are not complex, typical traffic speed is less than 25 MPH.
- Class 2: 755 in visible background and 201 in2 visible reflective. Superior level of visibility for higher risk occupations & conditions. Used in complex work backgrounds and/or inclement weather conditions, typical traffic speed is greater than 25 MPH.
- Class 3: 1,240 in visible background and 310 in visible reflective. Highest level of fluorescence & reflectivity. Used when workers are at high-risk due to limited sight distances, extreme weather conditions, and traffic speeds in excess of 50 MPH. Wearer must be identifiable as a person.
End users should select appropriate garments by conducting a hazard assessment of the worker environment.