Work Apparel & Footwear Washington DC

High visibility was already a trend in work and uniform apparel last year; this year, it's a trend with federal lawmaking behind it. To make sure that the new ANSI (American National Standards Institute) specifications on high-visibility apparel are put into effect, the Federal Highway Administration enacted CFR Part 634: Worker Visibility. It mandates that by November 24 of this year, all workers within the right-of-way of a federal-aid highway who are exposed to traffic or construction equipment within the work area must wear high-visibility apparel that meets the Performance Class 2 or 3 requirements of the ANSI/ISEA 107-2004, the American National Standard for high-visibility safety apparel.

ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 establishes design, material, photometric and physical performance requirements, care labeling, and marking rules for high-visibility garments intended to be worn by law enforcement officers, construction crews, and others who work on highways that receive federal aid. These guidelines are divided into three classes, as follows.

Class 1 garments are meant for:

• Conditions permit workers full and undivided attention to approaching traffic
• Pedestrian workers are separated from traffic
• Backgrounds are not complex
• Typical traffic speed is less than 25 mph.

Class 2 garments are intended for these conditions:

• Superior level of visibility for higher-risk occupations and conditions
• Work backgrounds are complex and/or there are inclement weather conditions
• Workers' attention is often diverted from approaching vehicle traffic
• Typical road speed is greater than 25 mph

Class 3 garments come into play for these conditions:

• Workers are at high risk due to limited sight distances and/or extreme weather conditions
• Traffic speeds are significantly higher than 25 mph
• The wearer must be conspicuous through the full range of body motions at a minimum distance of 1,280 feet
• The wearer must be identifiable as a person.

Along similar lines, Carhartt—which in 2006 launched a high-visbility line—last fall expanded its field testing program for new and existing workwear to include its Carhartt FR flame-resistant workwear and its high-visibility protective apparel. The company says that while all of its protective workwear is already tested for compliance with applicable safety standards, the field testing program focuses on getting feedback from actual workers in real work environments on such subjects as fit, comfort, durability, functionality, and other product quality and quality-of-life topics. Debbie Burgam, manager of Carhartt's field test program, said the company's testing program differs from other manufacturers' initiatives in some fundamental respects.

"Most importantly, most of the other manufacturers we've seen don't actually ask for the apparel back from the testers so that they can examine the garments for signs of wear, stress or other concerns," Burgam said. "That's a critical part of any real testing program, and it means that we're seeing potential issues that we would miss without actually inspecting the clothes that have been tested.

"Our survey for our testers is also significantly more comprehensive and provides much deeper information for our product designers, quality teams and others," she continued. "The more tester information and feedback we get, the better we can make our clothes."

This emphasis on work apparel that minimizes risk complements a trend toward expanding safety offerings in work footwear over the past few years. Brand such as Wolverine, Red Wing, Carolina Shoe, and Nautilus have expanded their selection in the areas of safety-toe, slip-resistant, chemical-resistant and electro-static dissipative footwear.

Protective footwear must pass two tests for impact and compression, as established by ASTM International (founded a century ago as the American Society for Testing and Materials). Under ASTM's Class 75 test for impact, a shoe must withstand a 75-lb. impact with 12.7 mm (0.50 in.) clearance for men's and 11.9 mm (0.468 in.) for women's. Under the Class 75 test for compression, a shoe must withstand 2,500 lbs. of compression, again while maintaining at least 12.7 mm of clearance for men's and 11.9 mm for women's shoes/boots.

For the past 40 years, electrical hazard shoes designed in compliance with ANSI Z41 standards offer protection from open electrical circuits of 600 volts or less under dry conditions. Worn under dry conditions, these shoes can provide secondary protection on surfaces that are substantially insulated. They are not, however, intended for use in explosive or hazardous areas where conductive footwear is required.

Having a fit

Protective work clothing of a different kind—long johns—got an update from Carhartt recently thanks to the introduction of Carhartt Performance Thermal Underwear. It's made from Carhartt's Work-Dry fabrics that are designed to wick away moisture and features anti-odor properties that help fabrics stay fresh and clean longer, according to Carhartt.

"Most base-layer performance thermals are designed for the sports user, not for the all-day active worker," explained Melinda Fabry, Carhartt's first-layer category manager. "There's a difference between what's comfortable and what works on a job site and what's appropriate for an end zone or hiking trail."

Fabry added that while performance thermals designed for sports use tend toward tight compression fits, Carhartt's Performance Thermal Underwear is form-fitting without being so tight that it gets in the way of long-term comfort. "Our wearers do their jobs over eight to 12 hours, not four quarters or nine innings," Fabry explained. "They're not interested in fighting their thermal underwear to get the job done."

For the active worker who requires the warmth of cotton in his or her apparel, Carhartt has also updated their traditional cotton thermal underwear with new fabric that is heavier weight, ring-spun and low-shrinkage for a warmer, more durable cotton thermal underwear option. Cotton thermal underwear is available in a crew top, bottom and union suit.

Over at Williamson Dickie Manufacturing Co., they've also made some revisions to the fit of the company's denim and duck pants. Described as the most comprehensive in two decades, the changes have resulted in the company says is a more comfortable "U" shaped rise, instead of the traditional "V" shape, increasing ease and range of movement.

In addition, Dickies brand jeans now sit "just below the waistline, with a natural tilt," according to the company. "The slightly higher back keeps the jeans in place during work and physical activity." The company says the new fit has been tested on a variety of men of varying sizes and shapes.

Proper fit is also a consideration when it comes to work and uniform footwear. This is especially so when you consider that your customer may very well be standing for his or her entire shift.