High-Visibility Safety Apparel Standard Updated to Include Disposable Coveralls, Nighttime Luminance Measurement

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Addresses Design, Performance and Materials for HVSA PPE

The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) has received American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval for ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel, an update to the widely accepted standard on high-visibility safety apparel (HVSA). The fifth edition of this voluntary industry consensus standard, this 2020 update emphasizes configurations and design requirements, includes specific criteria for single-use disposable coveralls, and introduces measurement of nighttime luminance.

Since its initial publication in 1999, ANSI/ISEA 107 has been the authoritative document for the design, performance or materials for HVSA personal protective equipment (PPE) in the United States, having been codified into U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regulations in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and incorporated by reference into other relevant worker protection standards.

“One of the easiest ways to help workers be safe is to make them more visible, especially when working alongside traffic, with heavy machinery, or at night,” said Tim Gardner, chairman of the ISEA High-Visibility Products Group and regulatory affairs manager at 3M Company. “This revised and enhanced HVSA standard serves to meet end-user needs, taking into considering all occupational tasks, hazards, and environments.”

From waste management to emergency first response to painting roads, worker visibility is often imperative in environments that can soil garments.  To address these scenarios, the 2020 version includes specific criteria for a single-use disposable coverall.  In addition to meeting requisite minimum material amounts and color requirements imposed on all compliant HVSA, conforming coveralls are evaluated to relevant material integrity tests and have unique labeling requirements.

Night work poses additional visibility challenges and safety risks. The 2020 edition of the standard introduces the concept of measuring the overall distribution of nighttime luminance of a garment, Evaluation is optional and the data it generates throughout the next revision cycle will allow wearers to more easily compare the all-angle nighttime performance of HVSA and empower manufacturers with an additional tool to improve  design and performance.

“Workers on the night shift are especially vulnerable to visibility issues,” said Sandra Hanna, vice chair of the ISEA High-Visibility Products Group and vice president of marketing and product development at ML Kishigo. “It’s vital luminance of safety apparel be measurable in all environments to ensure workers are protected.”

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 was developed by ISEA’s High-Visibility Products Group and approved by key stakeholders representing utility workers, safety professionals, transportation safety experts, testing laboratories and government agencies.

The standard can be purchased from ISEA for $65 at safetyequipment.org/ansiisea-107-2020 thought or any licensed resellers. For more information, contact Cristine Z. Fargo, ISEA Vice President, Operations and Technical Services, cfargo@safetyequipment.org.