Stay proactive, stay informed and prioritize safety in every step of the procurement process.
By: Scott Francis, Contributor
Choose high visibility garments certified by reputable third-
party organizations, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek. Photo courtesy of Westex: A Milliken Brand.
Construction, utility, police, emergency medical services, firefighters and other workers are routinely exposed to the hazards of low visibility — such as motor vehicles and heavy equipment — while on the job. High visibility fabrics meet specific requirements on how they reflect light so your workers can be seen in those low visibility situations.
But for workers specifically in utility and oil and gas who face a multi-hazard threat of flash fire or arc flash and low visibility, high visibility must also include flame-resistant (FR) properties to keep them safe from every threat.
UNDERSTAND SAFETY STANDARDS
The first step to ensure compliance is understanding the safety standards relevant to high visibility FR apparel. Buyers should familiarize themselves with industry-specific regulations, including one specific standard from the American National Standards Institute — ANSI 107 for high visibility apparel. ANSI 107 is used as a guide for the design, performance specifications and use of high visibility and reflective apparel, like vests, jackets, coveralls, trousers and harnesses. If a garment meets this standard, it can be worn at any point in a 24-hour day and allow its users to be seen by fluorescent and retro reflective materials.
It’s important to note that the official high visibility fabric approved by the ANSI 107 is yellow for the background material and includes three classes based on the amount of retro reflective striping on the garment or garment ensemble. Class 3 requires the most retro reflective striping and offers the most protection and is the most stringent level of high visibility clothing. An “X” made from retro reflective tape on the back of shirts, sweatshirts and outerwear is only required under Canadian standards, not the ANSI 107 standard.
VERIFY CERTIFICATION
Once familiar with the applicable safety standards, verify that the high visibility FR apparel procured meets these requirements. Look for garments certified by reputable third-party organizations, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek, which conduct rigorous testing to ensure compliance with industry standards such as the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 2112 for flash fire or the American Society for Testing Materials, ASTM F1506 for arc flash hazards. A request for documentation, such as certificates of compliance and test reports, from suppliers to confirm the quality and safety of the apparel is standard practice in the industry. Any supplier who pushes back or fails to provide these certifications should be considered suspect.
In order to protect your workers from hazards, make sure you purchase apparel that meets safety standards.
Photo courtesy of Westex: A Milliken Brand.
COMMUNICATE NEEDS AND HAZARDS
When specifying high visibility FR apparel requirements, the more information you can provide regarding your organization’s needs, such as the appropriate High visibility and FR/AR standards that need to be met along with fabric and garment design specifications and PPE supplier/distribution needs, the better off you and your workers will be. This helps suppliers ensure that the ANSI 107 High visibility garments also meet consensus thermal hazard safety standards such as NFPA 2112 for flash fire and ASTM F1506 for arc flash to maintain compliance with safety regulations.
Specify key features such as FR, arc-rated (AR) fabric composition (the fabric brand), garment design and reflective tape configuration as well as additional recommendations on the best types of garments needed for your workforce and work environment.
Additionally, consider how the PPE will be distributed to your employees as there are various service program options (a direct purchase allowance/choice program, a rental uniform program or combination program) on how to best distribute the High visibility, FR/AR PPE to your workforce. Tailor your organization’s apparel program to the unique requirements needed to deliver these products efficiently and effectively to your workers.
CONSIDER COMFORT
One of the biggest complaints with FR apparel as a category comes down to comfort. When you add the necessity of high visibility to the equation, comfort becomes even more important. One layer in warm weather is more comfortable than multiple layers! If workers choose to layer non-compliant high visibility gear such as a non-FR high visibility vest, they could compromise the FR protection from the other FR/AR PPE they’re wearing.
To avoid the possibility of non-FR vest donning and/or additional layers of the high visibility, FR vest, consider a more comfortable, one-layer, high visibility, FR/AR shirt option. There are numerous, comfortable, lighter weight, high visibility, FR/AR shirt options than ever before from various, trusted safety clothing/PPE distributors.
IMPLEMENT A QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCESS
Once you’ve made your high visibility, FR PPE product and supplier selections, implementing quality assurance processes to verify the compliance upon receipt is important. Inspect garments for key compliance indicators, including labeling (NFPA, ASTM, ANSI standards), stitching, reflective tape alignment, and overall construction quality. Conduct spot checks or random sampling to ensure consistency and reliability across batches of purchased apparel and collaborate closely with your selected suppliers to address any non-compliance issues promptly and effectively.
REMAIN PROACTIVE
Staying updated on safety standards, certification processes and compliance verification techniques is one of the best ways to continue to protect your workers on the front lines. Follow industry trade organizations like the ANSI to get real-time updates on changes to the standards and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for case studies and resources to help make your selections.
Navigating compliance in high visibility FR apparel procurement requires diligence, attention to detail, and collaboration with trusted suppliers. If it’s your job to purchase apparel that meets safety standards and effectively protects workers in hazardous environments, it’s your responsibility to stay updated on standards and be familiar with the hazards your workers face on the jobsite. Stay proactive, stay informed, and prioritize safety in every step of the procurement process. wmhs
Scott Francis serves as a technical manager for Westex: A Milliken Brand. He earned a master’s degree in inorganic chemistry and has been involved with the safety industry for more than 30 years, gaining extensive experience in protective apparel fabrics and programs. Reach him at [email protected]. Westex’s protective fabrics meet standards and integrate safety and comfort to deliver the most wearable flame-resistant and arc-rated (FR/AR) PPE possible. www.westex.com/
The post Navigating Compliance: How to Ensure Safety Standards in High Visibility FR Apparel Procurement appeared first on Workplace Material Handling & Safety.
