Suggested Type and Class Guidelines and Scenarios

High visibility garments should be chosen after a basic hazard assessment has been completed by a trained person designated by the employer, taking into account the expected threat environment, work activities, competing hazards, job classifications, and use policies.

 

1. Type O HVSA Scenarios – Occupational HVSA for Non-Roadway Use

Type O HVSA provides daytime and nighttime visual conspicuity enhancement for workers in occupational environments which pose struck-by hazards from moving vehicles, equipment and machinery, but which will not include exposure near to traffic on public access highway rights of-way or roadway temporary trac control (TTC) zones. Examples of pedestrian workers who could operate in this class may include:

1. Those workers directing vehicle operators to parking/service locations.
2. Workers retrieving shopping carts from parking areas.
3. Those exposed to the hazards of warehouse equipment traffic.
4. Oil and gas extraction workers.
5. Refinery workers.
6. Mine workers.

 

Example Type O worker scenarios, for occupational activities which may:

1. Permit full and undivided attention to approaching traffic.
2. Provide ample separation of the pedestrian worker from conflicting vehicle traffic.
3. Permit optimum conspicuity in backgrounds that are not complex.

 

2. Type R HVSA Scenarios – Occupational HVSA for Use in Proximity to Roadways

Type R HVSA provides daytime and nighttime visual conspicuity enhancement for workers in occupational environments which include exposure to traffic (vehicles using the highway for purposes of travel) from public access highway rights-of-way or roadway temporary traffic control (TTC) zones, or from work vehicles and construction equipment within a roadway temporary traffic control (TTC) zone. The Type R designation includes multiple Classes of HVSA. Examples of pedestrian workers intended for this HVSA Type may include all the workers required to comply with United States Federal Regulations on worker visibility in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), who are operating on or near public access roadways. Other categories of workers may also benefit from the conspicuity enhancement performance that this. Type of HVSA provides. Examples of workers who could operate in this class may include:

1. Toadway construction workers.
2. Utility workers.
3. Survey crews.
4. Railway workers.
5. Forestry workers.
6. School crossing guards.
7. Parking and/or toll gate personnel.
8. Airport baggage handlers/ground crew.
9. Emergency response personnel.
10. Law enforcement personnel.
11. Accident site investigators.
12. Roadway maintenance workers.
13. Flagging crews.
14. Towing operators.
15. Road assistance/courtesy patrols.

 

Example Type R worker scenarios, for occupational activities where risk levels exceed those for Type O such as where:

1. Greater visibility is desired during inclement weather conditions.
2. Complex backgrounds are present.
3. Employees are performing tasks which divert attention from approaching vehicle traffic.
4. Vehicle or moving equipment speeds exceed those in Type O scenarios.
5. Work activities take place in closer proximity to vehicle traffic.

 

Suggested Performance Class: 2 or 3 typical based upon certain conditions

3. Type P HVSA Scenarios – Occupational HVSA for Emergency and Incident Responders and Law Enforcement Personnel

Type P offers a range of HVSA for speciers to choose from to address the range of potential hazards experienced by emergency and incident responders and law enforcement personnel. Type P HVSA provide daytime and nighttime visual conspicuity enhancement for emergency and incident responders and law enforcement personnel in occupational environments which include exposure to traffic (vehicles using the highway for purposes of travel) from public access highway rights-of-way or roadway temporary traffic control (TTC) zones, or from work vehicles and construction equipment within a roadway temporary traffic control (TTC) zone, or from equipment and vehicles within the emergency activity area. Type P HVSA provides additional options for emergency responders, incident responders and law enforcement personnel who have competing hazards or require access to special equipment. Workers intended for this HVSA Type may include all the emergency and incident responders and law enforcement personnel required to comply with United States Federal Regulations on worker visibility in the Manual on Uniform traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), who are operating on or near public access roadways. Examples of pedestrian workers who could operate in this class may include:

1. Law enforcement personnel.
2. Emergency response personnel.
3. Road closure personnel.
4. Firefighting personnel.
5. Accident site investigators.

 

NOTE It is the intention of these Performance Class Guidelines and Scenarios to serve as an assessment tool only. Certain specic conditions such as atmospherics, sight/stop-distances, training, regulations, proximity, and others must be taken into account in any final hazard/safety assessment. Vehicle speed should not be considered in isolation to these variables. Extreme conditions might exist which require performance levels in excess of Performance Class 3. PPE should be selected to optimize color conspicuity between there wearer and the work environment.

 

Table 1. Minimum Areas of Visible Materials

 

Garment Type Performance Class Backgrpound Material Retroflective
or Combined – Performance Materials		 Minimum Width Reflective Material
Type O
Off-road and
Non-Roadway Use		 Class 1 0.14 m²
(217 in²)		 0.10 m²
(155 in²)		 25 mm (1 in.)
Type R
Roadway and Temporary Traffic Control Zones		 Class 2* 0.50 m²
(775 in²)		 0.13 m²
(201 in²)		 (201 in²) 25 mm (1 in.)##
35 mm (2 in.)
Class 3** 0.80 m²
(1240 in²)		 0.20 m²
(310 in²)		 25 mm (1 in.)##
50 mm (2 in.)
  *For the smallest size offered in Type R, Performance Class 2, a minimum of 0.35 m² (540 in²) of background material may be used to accommodate small-sized workers. All subsequent larger sizes must use 0.50 m² (775 in²).

**For the smallest size offered in Type R, Performance Class 3, a minimum of 0.65 m² (1000 in2) of background material may be used to accommodate small-sized workers. All subsequent larger sizes must use 0.80 m² (1240 in²).
Type P
Emergency and Incident
Responders and Law
Enforcement Personnel		 Class 2 0.29 m²
(450 in²)		 0.13 m²
(201 in²)		 25 mm (1 in.)##
50 mm (2 in.)
Class 3 0.50 m²
(775 in²)		 0.20 m²
(310 in²)		 25 mm (1 in.)##
50 mm (2 in.)
Supplemental Items#
Pants, Overalls, Shorts,
Rain Pants and Gaiters		 Class E 0.30 m²
(465 in²)		 0.07 m²
(109 in²)		 25 mm (1 in.)##
50 mm (2 in.)
# When a Supplemental Class E item is worn with Performance Class 2 or 3, the overall classification for the ensemble shall be Performance Class 3.

## For use with split-trim designs (See Section 6.3.1.2)

NOTE: Combined-performance materials can be counted toward the minimum area requirements for background material specified in Table 1.

 

Table 2. Minimum area of visible materials of optional high-visibility accessories

 

Accessory Background Material## Retroflective or
Combined-Performance
Materials##		 Minimum Width reflective
Material
Gloves 0.0065 m²
(10 in²)		 0.0065 m²
(10 in²)		 25 mm (1 in.)
Arm or leg bands 0.015 m²
(24 in²)		 0.015 m²
(24 in²)		 25 mm (1 in.)
Headwear, hoods (attached or detachable) 0.05 m²
(78 in²)		 0.0065 m²
(10 in²)		 25 mm (1 in.)
## For gloves, arms or leg bands, the minimum area of visible background material and retroreflective or combined-performance material shall be divided such that one half is on each individual item. For example, a pair of gloves would have 0.00325 m2 (5 in2) of visible background material and 0.00325 m2 (5 in2) of retroreflective or combined-performance material on each individual glove.