Tag: high Visibility FR Clothing

High-quality Safety Workwear

Why Investing in High-quality Safety Workwear is Beneficial for Any Business?

Safety has always been the utmost important factor for every organization. Every employee at work, needs to be safe from any kind of workplace hazard, and this goes beyond making sure they have a hard hat on their head. It also includes investing in high-quality safety workwear that will not just protect employees from hazards but will also benefit the business’ bottom line.

This article discusses why investing in high-quality safety workwear is beneficial for any business!

Why employees’ safety should be the priority for any business?

Employers should be aware of the fact that they’re responsible for their employees’ safety on a daily basis. Employees have to assume many risks in order to make sure any business is running properly, and some of these hazards are out of control when it comes to their employer. For example, if an employee climbs ladders or scaffolds to reach certain heights according to OSHA standards, he’s still at risk without proper protection, such as non-slip boots. When employers care about providing safe materials and equipment so workers can do their job efficiently, it shows they value them as human beings who deserve safety just like everybody else working there. By investing in high-quality safety workwear, they’re not only keeping their employees safe by complying with OSHA standards but also building the trust that should exist between employer and employee.

The key reason why investing in high-quality safety workwear is beneficial for any business are:

Better Brand Reputation: Investing in high-quality safety workwear is a great way for businesses to be associated with something positive and quality. It shows that you care about their well-being. This will translate to a better brand reputation as it shows how much you value the well-being of others over profits. This also gives the business an edge against competition since consumers are more likely to trust them.

Fewer Workplace Injuries: As mentioned, investing in high-quality safety workwear will increase employees’ well-being and help them do their job more safely. This is a safer way of working as it reduces the chances of workplace injuries, which leads to less absenteeism or turnover rate due to injuries since your workers are now able to perform better at their jobs with lesser risks.

Better Productivity: With fewer workplace accidents comes improved productivity for businesses. Employees who know they are protected by the best available equipment can focus on performing optimally because they no longer worry about getting hurt doing what they love – be productive! Less time worrying means more time spent making money for your company, so that’s another reason why this investment is beneficial for anyone looking out for

Compliance with Regulations: One of the crucial reasons for investing in high-quality safety workwear is that it ensures compliance with regulations set by organizations such as OSHA. Businesses who don’t comply can be subject to complaints or even lawsuits, so this investment is a great way for companies to ensure they’re always following proper procedures which are laid out to keep everyone safe and sound.

Reduced Costs: Investing in high-quality safety workwear reduces long-term costs since there will probably be lesser workplace injuries due to complete protection provided through your expensive gear! There’s also less absenteeism because workers know their jobs better now that they have fewer concerns while performing them – making them function at 100% efficiency! This means you have happier customers, increased sales, and more productivity which should translate to more revenue, and all of this leads to increased profits!

Positive Image: This investment also makes your company look good because you care about the well-being of others. It shows that you value their well-being over profit margins, so it’s a great way for businesses to develop a positive image among consumers and clients alike as they see how much companies are investing in making people feel safe at work. As mentioned earlier, a better brand reputation is something that will be beneficial in terms of sales and gaining trust from customers since people appreciate when brands do them a favor through little investments such as high-quality safety apparel being provided to employees who need them most.

Reduced Product Liability Insurance Costs: Finally, investing in high-quality safety workwear allows employees to take better care of themselves and the company. As such, this might reduce your product liability insurance costs because employees are now able to avoid accidents more, which means fewer claims against you due to workplace injuries!

Conclusion

Investing in high-quality safety workwear is a great way for businesses to be associated with something positive and quality. It shows that you care about their well-being, which will translate to a better brand reputation as it shows how much you value the well-being of others over profits. This also gives the business an edge against competition since consumers are more likely to trust them. Fewer workplace injuries, improved productivity, compliance with regulations, reduced long-term costs, and a negative image all make this investment beneficial for any business looking out for their own interest!

Hi-Vis Clothing

Understanding the Critical Requirements for Hi-Vis Clothing

Hi-vis clothing is high visibility clothing that has been designed to make you more visible in high-risk and low-light circumstances. The high visibility of the clothes enables you to stand out and get noticed; this means that people can see your presence from a much greater distance, reducing the chances of an accident. However, for hi-vis clothes to be effective, they need to meet certain requirements. Below we have mentioned the critical requirements for hi-Vis clothing that you must understand.

How does Hi-Vis Clothing Works?

Hi-vis clothing often uses high-intensity reflective materials to produce a bright, checkered pattern – these can be seen by drivers from over 300 feet away in the day and up to 500 at night. These garments have reflective tape that is sewn to the back and sleeves of high-visibility garments or is impregnated into the material. This reflective tape can contain retroreflective sheeting or prismatic film. In both cases, they are made up of laminated layers with high-index plastic films on either side, which reflect light when a beam strikes from an angle.

Which Colors are Considered for Hi-Vis Clothing?

Hi-Vis clothing will come in a variety of colors. The most common high visibility colors are fluorescent green, orange and yellow. However, red is also considered high visibility because it stands out against typical traffic signs, which are dark or light blue backgrounds with white lettering. It should not take long for an observer’s eyes to find the high visibility color.

Fluorescent colors are the most common high visibility colors because they can be seen from a distance more easily than other bright, solid-colored garments and materials. The brighter the color is, generally the better it will stand out to oncoming traffic or passersby in low light conditions.

Laws & Standards that Govern Hi-Vis Clothing Requirements

High visibility clothing regulations fall under several jurisdictions. Standards & regulations that apply to Hi-Vis clothing are: 

  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) high visibility standards
  • Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) high visibility regulations for motor vehicle operators and passengers
  • Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) high visibility clothing requirements for workers in construction, utilities, transportation, mining, shipyard operations, chemical manufacturing, and processing plants.

The purpose of these safety standards and regulations is to provide high visibility protection that will help reduce the risk of accidents, injuries & fatalities.

Performance Classes of Hi-Vis Clothing

There are three main types of high visibility clothing: Class I, II, and III. The performance class is determined by the amount of fabric used in a garment with an increased level of high-visibility yarns.

– Class I garments have bright colors that provide high contrast to dark backgrounds such as asphalt or concrete construction sites or other areas where there might not be much light around. This type of high vis clothing can also be incorporated into other applications like medical facilities for staff who need to wear it during work hours but may change out into regular clothes when they get off work for the day. Class I garments are not intended to be worn in any other environment besides where high contrast is needed, like a working high-vis area or medical facility.

– Class II garments use fluorescent colors that provide high daytime conspicuity against green backgrounds, such as grassy areas outdoors during daylight hours or inside work environments with high windows that let in plenty of natural light. These pieces include long sleeve shirts, tee shirts, rain jackets, and slickers but should never be mixed with bright colors such as red or orange.

– Class III garments use high visibility colors that provide high nighttime conspicuity against dark backgrounds and are often used for work environments with little natural light. This includes jackets, safety vests, and high visibility windbreakers worn by construction workers who need to be seen at night when they’re working on the side of a road or in an unlit parking lot. These pieces should never be mixed with bright colors like yellow either – instead, opt for darker hues like purple, pink, browns, or greens if possible.

We hope this information helps you find the right Hi-Vis clothing for your workers that keeps them safe and meets your industry’s standards.

FR Rainwear

How to Clean Your FR Rainwear?

We all know that rains can be unpredictable, but critical industries such as utilities, infrastructure maintenance, and transportation cannot delay their services due to rain. Electric utility linemen and oil & gas industry workers are truly essential, for that matter, as they keep the power flowing to the given area. These workers can face long hours of exposure to all types of hazardous weather, which makes it essential that they have all the protective gear they need in good shape at all times.

The scenarios utility workers typically face requiring protection in the form of high-quality flame-resistant rainwear clothing. FR safety clothing is made from materials that don’t catch fire easily when exposed to sparks or flames. Once you’ve made the investment in protecting your team with the right FR garments, the next step is to ensure that they take care of these clothing items correctly.

In this blog, we’ll see the importance of taking care of FR rainwear clothing and how you can keep them clean.

Why is it Important to Take Care of FR Rainwear in the Right Manner?

Outdoor working conditions can be harsh & extremely variable. Therefore, it is imperative that your workers have all the right gear for their safety and that they maintain it appropriately. Keeping your flame-resistant rainwear clean is important for a number of reasons, such as:

  • It’ll maintain its durability & performance so that you can get the most out of it over time.
  • It would help them last longer due to reduced wear & tear from dirt or grime build-up, which might otherwise get trapped in fabrics if they were dirty.
  • Also, it helps to avoid possible safety hazards such as accidents caused at the worksite.

These are just a few scenarios where wearing high-quality safety clothing with the appropriate care can make all the difference in the safety & efficiency of the worker.

Furthermore, caring for your FR rainwear with the correct methods will help these valuable gears to last longer & perform better even in the harshest conditions. Not washing your FR workwear in the right manner can damage it or make it prematurely worn out. Using the right washing procedures & tools are also essential as dirty, worn out, or broken tools can be ineffective for cleaning or affect the efficiency of the garment.

How to Clean FR Rainwear?

Here are some key cleaning tips that will ensure that your FR rainwear stays clean & ready to protect you from any workplace hazard:

  • Create a regular cleaning plan/schedule for your rain gear; this will ensure that your gears are clean & ready whenever you need them. Consider how often you’ll need to wash your rainwear, where & how you want to wash it, and where you’ll be keeping them.
  • The primary step in the actual cleaning process is to spot clean or wipe the entire garment with a damp cloth. Make sure you keep your garments in a manner & location where they can dry completely.
  • For more thorough cleaning, you can wash these garments at home in the washing machine separately in cold water on the gentle cycle of your washer.
  • When you’re cleaning your rainwear, either by hand or in a washing machine, make sure to not use abrasive cleaners, solvents, bleach, or fabric softeners.
  • Do not iron your FR garments at all. Simply hang them in a manner that’ll prevent any creases or wrinkles from forming.
  • Do not dry clean your FR rainwear, or send it out to an industrial laundry facility for cleaning.

Keeping these tips in mind while cleaning your FR rainwear will ensure they don’t lose their quality and keeps you safe for a longer period.

Important things you should know about Hi-Vis Clothing

As the name suggests, high visibility clothing is the garments that make you visible in certain lighting conditions to keep you safe on the job. These clothing types protect you from collisions involving vehicles passing by the work site as well as from the on-site equipment. It is essential to understand the definition of high visibility (Hi-Vis) clothing and the relevant regulations to stay safe & compliant. Whether you’re working on a construction site, in a warehouse or any other job that requires you to be near vehicles or heavy equipment, hi-vis clothing may be both a requirement & a way to stay safe.

In this article, we will talk about the important things that you should know about high visibility clothing.

Why do we wear Hi-Vis Clothing?

Workers from a variety of fields wear hi-vis clothing which makes them easier to see. Various situations, such as working on the roadside or at night, make wearing this type of clothing an essential requirement. Depending upon your job location & work conditions, you may have to follow the mandatory guidelines from your state and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to wear Hi-Vis clothing that makes you easy to spot from a distance.

How do Hi-Vis Clothing works?

Hi-Vis clothing is made with bright fabric; it has a tape that reflects lights. The fluorescent-colored background highlights the wearer’s general location. The reflective tape surrounds the arms & torso of the wearer. These tapes ensure that even if a driver is unable to see the color of your clothing, they can still see your reflection by any nearby lighting sources. The tape on this clothing type distinguishes you from other brightly colored objects in that area, such as construction barrels & safety cones.

What are the safety benefits & features of Hi-Vis Clothing?

The main aspects of high visibility clothing are reflective tape & bright background coloring. The fabrics come in fluorescent shades of green, red, yellow, and orange-red. To ensure that your garment has the appropriate safety features that you need for your particular job, you must look for the ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 or ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 label. These labels indicate that workwear clothing adheres to the ANSI/ISEA standards. The ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 standard is the most recent standard that was adopted in 2015, while the latter refers to the guidelines from the year 2004.

(ANSI) American National Standards Institute and (ISEA) the International Safety Equipment Association. These two groups have set out the standards for high visibility safety apparel (HVSA).

In 2015, the standards were changed to allow for a better fit of hi-vis clothing for smaller workers. These standards also include information on using armbands & gloves to fit into the requirements. Labels on the Hi-Vis clothing that adhere to the most recent standards should have information about the clothing type, performance class & flame resistance.

When is Hi-Vis Clothing required?

High Visibility Safety Apparel (HVSA) is a requirement for specific jobs & circumstances. Hi-vis OSHA requirements include the following situations:

Flagging: Workers who job is to flag traffic along roadways need hi-vis clothing

Excavation: Workers who work near holes or pits & have exposure to vehicular traffic must wear Hi-Vis safety clothing.

Struck-By Dangers: A worker who is in work zones near traffic & is at risk of having vehicles hit them needs HVSA.

These were some of the important factors about Hi-Vis Clothing that you must know about to keep your employees safe.

High Visibility FR Clothing

Understanding the Importance of High Visibility FR Clothing & its Performance Class

When you are at your worksite, every precaution must be taken to ensure your & others’ safety. While proper training & hazard assessments go a long way in this context, there are still chances of accidents & certain unavoidable hazards. Thus, working in a dangerous work environment makes it imperative to take all the necessary precautions to ensure everyones’ safety.  

Perhaps most risky are the jobs where workers face several kinds of hazards all at once. For instance, a worker working in a position that involves the risk of flash & fire with poor visibility is prone to multiple dangers. It’s not possible for anyone to look over their shoulders for oncoming motor vehicles while welding or fixing an electrical wire. Instead, these workers need a unique combination of flame-resistant (FR) high-visibility protective clothing that can serve both purposes.

Read on to understand the importance of hi-vis flame resistant clothing and its performance class.

Importance of Hi-Visibility FR Clothing

People working in an environment such as utility and oil & gas industries where there’s a risk of fire and explosion need to follow FR clothing norms to ensure workers’ safety. Flame-resistant clothing is vital as it effectively reduces the risk of injury from flash fire, arc flash, and open flame hazards. Flame-resistant clothing is specifically designed to works as a self-extinguisher when exposed to flame, reducing the extent of burns & providing workers a chance to escape. The material of this clothing doesn’t melt & provides thermal insulation from heat. While no clothing guarantees being entirely fireproof, FR clothing drastically cuts down on the number & severity of burn injuries. 

Moreover, a worker working in an environment that involves the risk of flash or fire with potential low-light conditions is exposed to the added danger of not being visible. That’s why high-visibility clothing is a must for many jobs. High-visibility FR clothing is made of brightly colored fabrics & reflective materials, which make the wearer more visible in all conditions and inclement weather. This, in turn, prevents many major accidents. Wearing FR clothing that comes with high visibility, along with other safety precautions & training, prevents many severe injuries and deaths every year.

Performance Class

The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) has established the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard, which provides industries with performance guidance around high-vis safety apparel. Below we have mentioned the breakdown of the two most popular ANSI high-visibility performance classifications:

There are very limited differences between performance Class 1 and general-purpose safety vests; thus, only the manufacturer rated safety vests starting at Class 2 are elected.  

Performance Class 2: This is for workers working in low-light environments & heavy traffic. When traffic exceeds 25 mph & below 50 mph, Class 2 rated safety vests are considered ideal. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognizes highway/road construction work zones as areas where workers are potentially exposed to the risk of being struck by the vehicles operating near them. A worker working as a flagger, laborer, or survey crew in these areas need to wear a Class 2 rated vest.

Performance Class 3: This is for workers working in dangerous, high traffic areas and in poor light conditions, for example, workers working in snowy conditions on a busy road. A worker is operating in an area where a vehicle travels more than 50 mph need to wear a Class 3 rated safety vest. Most heavy traffic areas, as mentioned in Performance Class 2, should consider wearing a Class 3 safety vest, as an additional reflective material will help to identify other workers better.

One more perk of high-vis clothing is these easily recognizable garments & accessories communicate a certain level of authority in situations where an area has restricted access. Everyone recognizes high-vis gear as work clothing & understands that individuals wearing it are there to do a job, which separates the worker from other passersby.