Daylight Savings Calls For Reflective Safety Wear

As the weather turns cold, most of America rolls back time in an effort to optimize daylight. While the end of daylight saving time creates more sunlight during the morning hours, it reduces light toward the end of the work day. Here's what you should know about protecting your workforce during this especially dangerous time.

Understanding the Risks

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), fatal injuries along road construction sites most commonly occur as a result of workers being struck by vehicles. While that might not sound surprising given the distractible nature of American motorists, it doesn't tell the whole story.

Based on statistics provides by the BLS, while motorists are directly responsible for a large percentage of road construction site fatalities, the majority of accidents occur when workers are struck by construction equipment. Whether it's a back-over or run-over, jobsite accidents tend to result from visibility issues. Many times, this is due to obstruction; however, it's also frequently caused visibility issues related to low lighting.

The Need for High-Visibility Workwear

For companies working along America's roadsides, high-visibility work gear is anything but optional. At the same time, high-vis workwear is also necessary for construction workers that regularly move around forklifts, backhoes, trucks, cars and other machinery traveling under its own power.

More than one agency of the federal U.S. government has standards and guidance related to the wearing of high-visibility clothing. This includes both the Federal Highway Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These agencies typically reference the industry consensus standard, which comes from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). While it's critical for managers to ensure that they are in compliance with these regulations, it's not always enough. When lighting is especially low, it's important for managers to go the extra mile by outfitting their crews with high-vis clothing and equipment that will actually get worn.

Choosing the Right High-visibility Clothing

High-visibility garments are designed to make wearers more visible to vehicular traffic. They do this by providing high color contrast between clothing and the work environment. Unfortunately, if they are uncomfortable, don't fit well, or are inappropriate for the weather, high-visibility clothing often ends up on the ground. To make sure your workers always don their brightest colors, it's important to choose high-visibility clothing that will ensure comfort and promote productivity. This means hi-vis winter jackets instead of vests when the temperature drops. It also means lightweight gear when the temperature soars above 100 degrees in the summer. It may also mean flexible high-visibility gloves that allow for fine handling, along with water-proof parkas that will keep workers dry when rain begins to fall.