libaerty

[libaerty]

The Importance of Having Women’s High-Visibility Clothing

If you’ve ever had an accident, you may have said, “It just seemed to come out of the woodwork! I didn’t see it.” Hopefully, the “it” was not a person … working on a road crew; in a manufacturing facility; on a farm or ranch; or in any situation that has moving vehicles, parts, or heavy equipment. Low visibility can cause accidents. That’s why women’s high-visibility clothing is essential for women to wear when working in any low-light or low-visibility situation. She doesn’t want to be the next “it.”

Who needs to wear women’s hi-vis clothing?

Any woman doing manual labor in construction, manufacturing, transportation, mining, farming, ranching, oil and gas, rail and air transport, or utilities and emergency services should wear women’s high-visibility clothing on the job. That’s one way to keep her safe in potentially hazardous working conditions.

However, it’s not just women working manual labor jobs in those fields who can benefit from wearing women’s hi-vis clothing. Even people who have white-collar positions—architects, sales reps, managers, engineers and superintendents—should wear high-visibility safety apparel (HVSA) in certain circumstances. If they are visiting construction sites, factories, warehouses or other possibly hazardous locations should take precautions and wear HVSA garments.

Some non-work situations call for wearing women’s high-visibility clothing. Women who engage in leisure activities such as cycling, hunting, and water sports should also wear women’s hi-vis clothing. They could also find themselves in low-light situations or around moving vehicles.

Is women’s high-visibility clothing considered Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

PPE is safety apparel for people—both men and women—who work in industrial locations. Women’s hi-vis clothing is a type of PPE. OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires it for certain occupations and encourages it for others. Although it isn’t the only way to help keep workers safe in low-light conditions or around moving vehicles or parts, it’s helpful.

What makes women’s hi-vis clothing different from other workwear?

Women’s high-visibility workwear consists of bright, reflective (or fluorescent) clothing designed to keep women safe—and seen—in low-visibility conditions, such as snow, sleet, fog, rain or darkness, or around heavy traffic or moving parts. Sometimes a mesh vest with reflective stripes suffices, but usually that’s not good enough for industrial workers. Garments also need to fit properly, or they can be hazardous on their right.

LIBAERTY makes high-quality workwear for women that are designed to properly fit a woman’s body. LIBAERTY’s collection includes women’s high-visibility clothing that meets the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a private, non-profit organization that created performance criteria for HVSA apparel (ANSI/SEA 107). These garments are designed to keep women safe when working in hazardous conditions.

ANSI-approved HVSA women’s high-visibility workwear fits into three categories:

Type O: off-road garments for workers who aren’t near traffic

Type R: clothing for workers exposed to roadway traffic

Type P: clothing for public safety workers, including first responders and emergency personnel

The categories are further divided into class 1, 2 or 3, depending on risk levels. ANSI specifies colors, photometric and garment design requirements, as well as minimum amounts of component materials for each type/class combination.

What are the features of quality women’s hi-vis clothing?

LIBAERTY’s line of women’s high-visibility clothing is made from durable fabrics that range in size from XS to XXL and is designed to properly fit female body shapes. Choose from vests, pants, shirts and coats that all meet ANSI standards. Garments are meant to be mixed and layered to adapt to the weather or the working condition.

LIBAERTY women’s hi-vis clothing is:

Visible and contrasts with the surroundings

Breathable, comfortable and well-fitting

Appropriate for the weather and work environment

Made of material that can withstand the elements

Compatible with any additional required PPE equipment

Durable when under duress (such as when it’s exposed to chemical products or near abrasive surfaces)

When a good fit, comfort and safety are important for top job performance, choose high-quality women’s high-visibility clothing.