Safety vests are essential personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to enhance the visibility of workers in various environments. Selecting the appropriate vest for the task at hand is crucial for ensuring worker safety. This article will delve into three common types of safety vests: ANSI Class 2, Surveyor, and Flame-Resistant, outlining their features and ideal applications.

ANSI Class 2 Safety Vests

ANSI Class 2 safety vests are a common choice for workers in environments with moderate risk. They're designed to provide high visibility in situations where traffic speeds are generally below 50 mph. These vests feature a significant amount of background material (fluorescent yellow-green or orange-red) and reflective material, ensuring that workers are easily seen during both daytime and nighttime operations.

Key Features:

Increased background and reflective material compared to Class 1.

Typically have at least 775 square inches of background material and 201 square inches of reflective material.

Reflective stripes are often 2 inches wide.

Best For:

Roadway construction workers

Utility workers

Survey crews

School crossing guards

Airport ground crews

Parking lot attendants

Surveyor Vests

Surveyor vests are a specialized type of high-visibility vest designed with the specific needs of surveyors and other field professionals in mind. While often meeting ANSI Class 2 or 3 requirements for visibility, their distinguishing features are the multiple pockets and specialized compartments. These vests allow workers to carry tools, notebooks, and other essentials, keeping them readily accessible on the job site.

Key Features:

Numerous pockets (e.g., pen pockets, tablet pockets, radio pockets).

D-rings for attaching equipment.

Often made from durable, breathable materials.

May have solid fronts with mesh backs for comfort.

Best For:

Land surveyors

Engineers

Foremen

Inspectors