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CCOHS: High-Visibility Safety Apparel

What is High-Visibility Safety Apparel (HVSA)?

High-visibility safety apparel (HVSA) is clothing such as vests, bibs, or coveralls that workers wear to improve their visibility to others. This is especially crucial in low light and dark conditions. High-visibility headwear can also be used to enhance the wearer's visibility in scenarios where part or all of the body might be obscured, such as by leaves, traffic barriers, or construction materials.

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The design requirements for high-visibility safety clothing are set forth in the CSA Standard Z96-15 (R2020), High-Visibility Safety Apparel in Canada, and in the ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 2020 American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Accessories in the United States.

Why do I need High-Visibility Safety Apparel?

If you work in conditions with low light and poor visibility, particularly around moving vehicles like cars, trucks, forklifts, or other machinery, high-visibility safety apparel (HVSA) is essential. HVSA allows drivers of vehicles to see you from a distance and react accordingly, thus enhancing workplace safety. The human eye responds best to large, contrasting, bright, or moving objects. High-visibility clothing improves worker visibility through high color contrast against the work environment.

When do I need High-Visibility Safety Apparel?

Before choosing high-visibility safety apparel, confirm the legislative requirements for your jurisdiction as certain tasks may mandate specific attire.

The CSA Standard recommends conducting a hazard assessment at each job site. This evaluation identifies potential hazards a worker might encounter, such as the risk of being struck by moving vehicles, and considers environmental conditions. For more on risk assessments, see the OSH Answers document on Risk Assessment.

Consider the following when performing a hazard assessment where HVSA might be required:

• The type and nature of the work:
  • Do workers and mobile equipment need to interact?
  • Are workers controlling traffic or interacting with the public?
  • Do workers need to be visually identifiable from others in the area?
  • Are there industry specifications or best practices?
• Potential exposure to heat or flames.
• Work conditions (indoor or outdoor, temperature, work rates, traffic flow, volume, visibility, etc.)
• The workplace environment (urban, rural, highway, cluttered, etc.)
• Duration of exposure to traffic hazards, including traffic speeds.
• Lighting conditions and changes due to weather (sunlight, overcast, fog, rain, snow).
• Factors affecting warning distances and times (traffic volume, vehicle size, speed, and stopping ability).
• Current controls (engineering controls like barricades or administrative controls like training).
• Possible distractions from hazards.
• Sightlines of mobile equipment and vehicle operators, especially when reversing.

Once hazards are identified, employers can select appropriate controls, which may include engineering controls like physical barriers and administrative controls like scheduling work during daylight hours. High-visibility apparel, a form of personal protective equipment, can be an additional safety measure but should be used alongside other controls.

Can I add a logo or name tag to the High-Visibility Apparel?

It depends. The CSA Standard permits non-retroreflective identification badges smaller than 105 cm² on the front of the garment, covering only 25 cm² of the vertical striping. On the back, it cannot cover any striping. Retroreflective ID badges meeting the standard's specifications can be up to 500 cm² and placed anywhere without obscuring the retroreflective pattern.

If your jurisdiction’s legislation does not specifically reference the CSA Standard, check with the local occupational health and safety department to confirm if alterations are allowed.

What is the difference between fluorescent and retroreflective materials?

Fluorescent material converts invisible ultraviolet light from sunlight into visible light using special pigments, enhancing visibility particularly under low natural light conditions such as fog or dusk. It is only effective in natural light.

Retroreflective material reflects light back towards its source, making it useful under low-light conditions where the light source, like vehicle headlights, directly illuminates it. This does not provide effective visibility enhancement during sunny daytime conditions due to a lack of contrast with the environment.

Combined-performance retroreflective material incorporates both retroreflective and fluorescent properties. While not all retroreflective materials are fluorescent, and vice versa, this combination provides enhanced visibility in varied lighting conditions.

What should I look for in High-Visibility Safety Apparel?

Coverage/Visibility:

• Bright garments offer better visibility than dull ones. Full body coverage (360°) ensures visibility from all directions.
• Contrasting stripes enhance visibility. Stripes on arms and legs indicate the motion of the wearer.
• Bright-colored or fluorescent background material is highly visible but lacks retroreflective properties.
• Requirements such as flame resistance, water resistance, durability, comfort, and flexibility may be necessary depending on other hazards.

Employers should choose the color and stripe combination that offers the best contrast and movement visibility.

Fit:

• Garments should fit properly, considering other clothing worn underneath. They should sit correctly and stay in place during work.
• Apparel should be comfortable, without causing irritation. It should be of suitable weight, stretch, and flexibility.
• Ensure no other clothing or equipment covers the high-visibility materials.

Brightness:

• Daylight - Bright colors are best for daylight visibility. Fluorescent materials are especially effective.
• Low light - Fluorescent colors enhance visibility under low light. Reflective materials are also recommended.
• Dark conditions - Retroreflective materials offer greater visibility. Fluorescent materials are ineffective at night without natural light.

Design:

To meet the CSA Standard, high-visibility safety apparel must have specific criteria for stripes/bands:

1. A minimum width of 50 mm.
2. Horizontal stripes around the waist at the navel or belly button.
3. Two vertical stripes over the shoulders down to the waist.
4. A symmetric "X" on the back from shoulders to waist.
5. For Class 3 apparel, additional stripes around arms and legs.

Color:

The CSA Z96-15 (R2020), specifies the color of background materials and stripes/bands. For class 1, a minimum of 0.14 meters squared of background material is required. For classes 2 and 3, full coverage of background material must be fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, fluorescent red, bright yellow-green, or bright orange-red.

Care/Maintenance:

• Keep high-visibility apparel clean. Dirty materials reduce visibility.
• Replace worn or contaminated garments to maintain visibility standards.

Purchasers should verify that high-visibility apparel meets CSA Z96-15 standards, typically indicated on the garment’s tag.

What are the different classes of safety apparel?

CSA Standard Z96-15 outlines levels of retroreflective performance, colors, luminance of background materials, and body coverage by high-visibility components. It includes special requirements for garments providing electrical flash and flame protection.

There are three classes of garments based on body coverage:

• Class 1: Lowest coverage and good visibility.
• Class 2: Moderate coverage and superior visibility.
• Class 3: Greatest coverage and visibility under poor light and at a distance.

Refer to the standard for specific details, which note examples of appropriate jobs for each class.

When would I wear the different classes of High-Visibility Safety Apparel?

Low Risk: Class 2, Class 1 under certain conditions

Low-risk situations may include:

• Workers focusing fully on approaching traffic.
• Ample separation between workers and traffic.
• Simple, non-cluttered work backgrounds.
• Vehicle speeds under 40 km/h (25 mph).
• Tasks where worker attention is diverted from traffic.

Examples include:

• Directing vehicles to parking or service locations.
• Retrieving shopping carts in parking areas.
• Warehouse operations.
• Sidewalk maintenance.
• Shipping or receiving operations.

Figure 1: Example of Class 1 Apparel – Harness or Color/Retroreflective Stripes on Other Clothing

Note: A shirt with high-visibility or retroreflective stripes/bands is another option.

Medium Risk: Class 2 or 3 based on conditions

Medium-risk situations may include:

• Vehicles moving between 40-80 km/h (25-50 mph).
• Greater visibility under poor weather or low light.
• Complex work backgrounds.
• Tasks diverting attention from traffic.
• Work near flowing vehicle traffic.

Examples include:

• Roadway construction, utility, forestry, or railway work.
• Manufacturing, plant, or mill work.
• Survey crews.
• School crossing guards.
• Parking and toll gate workers.
• Airport baggage handlers and ground crews.
• Emergency response personnel.
• Law enforcement members.
• Accident site investigators.

Figure 2: Examples of Class 2 Apparel – Vests, Jackets, and Bib overalls

Note: These examples are for illustrative purposes only.

High Risk: Class 2 for daytime, Class 3 for low-light conditions

High-risk situations may include:

• Vehicle speeds exceeding 80 km/h (50 mph).
• High task loads for workers on foot and vehicle operators, placing the worker at risk.
• Need for maximum conspicuity over a distance of 390 m (1,280 ft).
• Low light or nighttime work.

Examples include:

• Roadway construction workers.
• Utility workers.
• Survey crews.
• Mine workers.
• Emergency responders.
• Road assistance or courtesy patrols.
• Flagging crews.
• Towing operators.

Figure 3: Examples of Class 3 Apparel - Jackets and Overalls

Note: These examples are for illustrative purposes only.

For more details, refer to CSA Standard Z96-15.

What should worker training include?

Training for workers using high-visibility apparel should cover the following points:

1. When to use high-visibility apparel.
2. Fitting instructions, including how to put on and take off the apparel if relevant.
3. The importance of using the apparel as intended.
4. Limitations of use.
5. How to properly store and maintain the apparel.
6. How to inspect the apparel for wear and tear.
7. Proper cleaning or decontamination methods, including washing or dry-cleaning instructions.

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