The History and evolution of safety vests

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is essential in various worksites. Industries with risky working environments use PPE to provide safety and increase the efficiency of their workforce. High visibility vests are one of the most common PPE used within countless industries. These safety vests prevent accidents, particularly in busy areas such as construction sites where heavy vehicles and machinery are constantly moving around.

 

The hi-vis vests are also important in the line of work where a person has to work in fog or conditions when there is low visibility. Many US industries are legally obliged to provide their employees with safety vests. However, there was a time when people used to work in high-risk environments without these safety gear. As a result, many workers lost their lives in the line of duty due to the lack of safety wear that could provide high visibility and protection. It was some time in the 1900s when safety wear and vests became a part of uniforms in the dangerous worksites. The history of safety vests is just a few decades old.

 

The history

Believe it or not, the first high-visibility clothing was a wedding dress made by the Switzer brothers, Bob and Joe from Berkley, California. Bob got severely injured in the 1930s and lost his eyesight while he was unloading heavy crates. His life took a wrong turn as he lost his eyes along with his ambition to become a doctor. Moved by his misfortune, the guy decided to create a solution for his fellow workers who work in risky environments, prone to unnecessary injuries. Joe Switzer, the brother who was researching fluorescent chemicals, helped to make the mission successful. The brothers combined their knowledge of chemicals and workplace experiences to make the early models of reflective supplies. They first produced the fluorescent paint and named it “Day-Glo.” Bob first used the paint on his wife’s wedding dress which became the first high-visibility clothing item in history.

 

Besides workwear, the Day-Glo also gained success when applied to movie posters and marketing materials. When the Switzer brothers noticed the progress, they further improved the formula and broadened the marketing horizon to gain more success. However, it was during World War II when their invention gained popularity among industries. People started realizing the full potential of benefits that Day-Glo and the safe clothes can provide to people. Since then, high Visibility clothes, particularly vests, are evolving to cater to the safety of millions of people around the world.

 

The evolution during World War II

During World War II, the US Army suffered from many accidental fires, particularly in urban war zones at nighttime. Moreover, soldiers used to get confused and lose track of the friendly troops on the field.

High-visibility vests emerged as the perfect solution for these issues. The government adopted the Switzer brothers technology to increase soldiers’ visibility while reducing the number of fire incidents as well.

 

Soldiers also started wearing these fluorescent pieces while signaling their presence to the airplanes. Aircraft crews started wearing hi-vis clothing to direct the planes on air bases and landing strips. The Switzer brothers reflective material made its way to the open oceans as well, where the navy put reflective strips on buoys to signal other ships for a safe pass.

 

Further evolution to become a legal requirement

Later, the technology behind safety vests and high-visibility clothes evolved with the increasing needs and advanced technology. 1965 arrived with a significant evolvement of Bob’s creation in the category of workwear. It was Scottish Rail that introduced the high visibility work uniforms in the railway services. In 1965, high-visibility workwear became mandatory for everyone working on the West Coast Main Line.

 

The year 1974 brought the Health and Safety at Work Act in the UK industries. The employers became obliged to fulfill all the safety requirements of their employees. Ensuring the prominent visibility of workers in dangerous environments was also an obligation of the ACT. Another relevant legislation regarding the safety and protection wear in workplaces became public in 1992 under the PPE at Work Act. The act regulated the suitability of workwear according to the nature of work and work environment.

The EN471 standard regulating high visibility clothing emerged in 1994, and in 2003 an adapted version superseded it effectively. The standard formed a class system according to the risk level of workers’ insufficient visibility in certain job environments. The EN ISO 20471 in 2013 stipulated the work safety-related regulations out of the EU and on an international basis.

 

Safety vests in the current form

The safety vests have now taken a variety of forms and classifications. Class 3 safety vests are high visibility clothing pieces for workers who work in an environment with low lighting. ANSI 207-2011 are for law enforcement people. For maximum efficiency in dangerous situations, these vests must have at least a background material of 450 square inches and reflective material of 201 square inches per vest. Breakaway safety vests are easily removable, so workers on construction sites and near heavy machinery can quickly get rid of them in case of a snag incident.

 

Flame-resistant safety vests have visibility features like other safety vests, but in addition, they protect the workers when they are near heat sources, open flames, and electrical arcs. Currently, industries and organizations are also adopting the new trend of customizing their safety vests with brand logos and employee names. A custom safety vest not only makes a worker safe and visible but enhances his identity and affiliation with the company as well.

 

With the constant advancement in technology, we can foresee that safety vests and PPE workwear will see more innovation and protective features in the future. For now, you can order a custom safety vest for all your employees to fulfill the legal requirement and moral duty towards your staff working in hazardous environments to achieve your common organizational goals.