One of the most important tools for a construction worker is his high-visibility safety vest. No matter what sort of conditions he may be working in - whether its alongside a busy highway, working after sundown, or working in the rain (for which there is safety rain gear as well), it's vitally important that is able to be seen by people both on the construction site and those driving by. These safety vests must meet special requirements by the FHWA, that is, they must be ANSI Class 2 or Class 3 safety garments. These vests are required by all of those who are working near a highway or working near construction machinery, not just the workers themselves. This includes surveyors, engineers, foremen, and more.
Damage Over Time
As you might imagine, these safety gear undergo a lot of physical stress due to the nature of construction itself. While this damage can happen all at one time, it usually is an accumulation after many months of wearing these vests. Gradual wear and tear can render a vest unable to be used, as they must be visible at 1000 feet by law. If they aren't, whether it's from being torn, defaced, soiled, or damaged, it is required that they get replaced.
Color And Reflectivity
What signs should one look for to check if a vest is too damaged to wear? Vests that are acceptable display high levels of contrast and reflectivity. The colors are still very visible from very far away. While it's totally expected that there should be some fading and dirtiness, they still need to be able to be seen from 1000 feet away. At the point where the reflectivity isn't satisfactory anymore and the colors aren't as distinct, they should be replaced. This rule is applicable to other safety gear as well, including safety rain gear, reflective cones, and more. If they aren't working, they should be replaced.
Replacement
It's actually not hard at all to replaced a damaged vest, and there are only a few steps. The first is to notify a supervisor. This supervisor is in charge of making sure you get the correct vest in place of the old one, so he or she will need a little information first. This information includes what job the vest was for, since they can vary by job or occupation, the local laws surrounding safety vests, and whether the vest was Class 2 or Class 3.
Once the old vest has been replaced, it's important to cut up the old one so it cannot be reused by someone who doesn't know it's out of commission. Once it's been properly disposed of, the process is complete.
Average Lifetime
While there are certainly a handful of factors that influence how long a vest's lifespan is, the usual time is around six months. Other conditions, like working at higher elevations on in hot areas can lead to faster wear. Another important condition is the actual type of work that is being done. How often vests are cleaned and how they are stored makes a big difference as well.
Damage Over Time
As you might imagine, these safety gear undergo a lot of physical stress due to the nature of construction itself. While this damage can happen all at one time, it usually is an accumulation after many months of wearing these vests. Gradual wear and tear can render a vest unable to be used, as they must be visible at 1000 feet by law. If they aren't, whether it's from being torn, defaced, soiled, or damaged, it is required that they get replaced.
Color And Reflectivity
What signs should one look for to check if a vest is too damaged to wear? Vests that are acceptable display high levels of contrast and reflectivity. The colors are still very visible from very far away. While it's totally expected that there should be some fading and dirtiness, they still need to be able to be seen from 1000 feet away. At the point where the reflectivity isn't satisfactory anymore and the colors aren't as distinct, they should be replaced. This rule is applicable to other safety gear as well, including safety rain gear, reflective cones, and more. If they aren't working, they should be replaced.
Replacement
It's actually not hard at all to replaced a damaged vest, and there are only a few steps. The first is to notify a supervisor. This supervisor is in charge of making sure you get the correct vest in place of the old one, so he or she will need a little information first. This information includes what job the vest was for, since they can vary by job or occupation, the local laws surrounding safety vests, and whether the vest was Class 2 or Class 3.
Once the old vest has been replaced, it's important to cut up the old one so it cannot be reused by someone who doesn't know it's out of commission. Once it's been properly disposed of, the process is complete.
Average Lifetime
While there are certainly a handful of factors that influence how long a vest's lifespan is, the usual time is around six months. Other conditions, like working at higher elevations on in hot areas can lead to faster wear. Another important condition is the actual type of work that is being done. How often vests are cleaned and how they are stored makes a big difference as well.
About the Author:
It seems obvious that wearing safety clothing that isn't working up to standards isn't a good idea, but people still do. If you have even a little bit of doubt as to whether your safety vest or safety rain gear is good enough, it's probably a good idea to just replace it.
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