What exactly qualifies as a safety reflective shirt? For example with roadside construction workers at a high risk of injury, they need to have all the safety gear to ensure that they remain visible to oncoming traffic and stay safe. The best way to do that is by wearing high-visibility safety apparel, particularly a safety reflective shirt or vest.
So what exactly is a safety reflective shirt? A safety reflective shirt, also known as a high visibility shirt, is a form of highly luminescent apparel or a bright color easily visible and detectable in any background. There are many forms of high visibility and safety reflective clothing, with safety vests being the most common.
Construction workers and those in similar jobs keep safety as their number one priority. From being harmed by falling objects to the risk of dealing with faulty equipment, there are several things that construction workers must watch out for.
One of the most common injuries among roadside construction workers is being hit by a vehicle. In fact, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), from 2003 to 2020, 2,222 workers lost their lives at road construction sites. This equals an average of 123 workers losing their lives per year.
So how do you choose the best safety reflective shirt to ensure your utmost safety? We’ll answer these questions and more in this article so keep reading.
What Is a Safety Reflective Shirt?
There are many forms of high visibility and safety reflective clothing, with safety vests being the most common. However, safety reflective shirts are also very popular and effective for visibility.
Safety reflective shirts are most commonly worn by people who work roadside, especially those who work on or near busy roads where drivers may struggle to see them. They may also be used indoors where appropriate vehicles are operated, such as forklifts and other machinery. They’re generally inexpensive, so having several ready for an entire week of work is easy.
Safety reflective shirts are also worn by people who aren’t on the job and just want to remain visible while on the road, such as cyclists. They’re especially commonly used at night and when visibility is extremely poor.
People who wear safety reflective shirts may include:
- Construction workers
- Warehouse workers
- Traffic controllers and guards
- Police officers
- EMTs
- Runners
Other high-visibility gear that you may consider include:
- Raincoats
- Winter jackets
- Vests
Safety Reflective Shirt vs. Safety Reflective Vest
You may have also considered safety reflective vests when deciding on high-visibility gear.
Safety reflective vests are often more functional than simple shirts, as they may have pockets or belts. This may sound more convenient; however, a reflective safety vest may be unnecessary or even a hazard depending on the job. Understanding your needs is vital before choosing the best reflective clothing (more on this later).
If you’re a construction manager and must dress up on-site, high-visibility uniform shirts are a great option. They allow you to be distinguished on the work site while ensuring you’re safe by making you visible.
As you can see, there are many circumstances where high visibility gear is appropriate and should be worn, as well as many different types of high visibility gear to wear. Let’s further explore why wearing safety reflective shirts is essential.
The Importance of a Safety Reflective Shirt
There are several reasons why wearing a safety reflective shirt to make yourself seen is necessary.
Safety is the most important reason for wearing high-visibility gear. This benefits you as a worker and nearby drivers who need to see you.
The point of wearing safety reflective gear is to minimize the risk of injury. When you wear these safety reflective shirts, you can feel safer about working near vehicles. As a result, you’ll also be able to perform your job or task better and more confidently.
Safety reflective shirts also enable work to be done at night. Nighttime is one of the most dangerous times for roadside work due to low visibility. However, there are times when it is necessary to have workers perform roadside tasks overnight.
Even drivers are extra hesitant when driving at night, specifically near construction zones where they can’t tell whether there are workers. Safety reflective shirts are bright enough to be seen when it’s dark out, ensuring everyone’s safety.
While accidents may still occur while wearing safety reflective shirts, the risk of being struck by a driver is significantly reduced.
The most important thing to know about choosing safety reflective clothing of any kind is that it always comes in different types. Let’s look at the different high-visibility gear classes to help you choose the right one.
Safety Reflective Shirts Class Types
As with many other types of safety gear, such as PPE, high visibility work clothing can be categorized in various ways to help you choose the best one for the job. Selecting the most suitable category for the job should be your starting point in determining the best safety reflective shirt for your needs.
To start, there are several classes of high-visibility clothing: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. Class 1 offers a minimum amount of protection or visibility. While these shirts have bright reflective surfaces, they aren’t overly noticeable and may still be overlooked during extremely poor visibility. These shirts are typically used by those working in jobs with a lower risk of cars speeding by them, like parking lot attendants.
Class 2 is one step up from class 1 safety reflective clothing. Usually, these shirts have longer reflective strips on their sleeves for additional visibility. These are used by workers who are more often surrounded by cars going at faster paces, such as garbage collectors and traffic safety officers.
Finally, Class 3 reflective clothing has the most reflective strips, making anyone who wears these clothes highly visible in various conditions. These shirts are typically reserved for those who work the most dangerous roadside jobs, especially those who work off of highways, such as construction workers.
Safety reflective shirts usually fall under Class 1 or Class 2, with other gear such as vests or coats often falling under Class 3. The higher the class, the more expensive your safety reflective shirt may be. However, there should be other factors behind your decision. Instead, your safety should be your utmost priority and guide you towards choosing the best safety reflective shirt for the job.
Now that you know the different class types of high visibility gear, let’s discuss choosing the best safety reflective shirt for the job.
How to Choose a Safety Reflective Shirt: Best Practices
Knowing how to choose a safety reflective shirt ensures you choose the safest option for your job and needs.
There are three main factors that you should consider when choosing the right safety reflective shirt for you:
- Your job
- Working conditions
- Health and safety standards compliance
Let’s take a closer look at each of these three factors.
The Job at Hand
The first thing you should consider when choosing a safety reflective shirt is what exactly you’ll be using it for, particularly your job.
As discussed, different classes of shirts are best used for different jobs. Jobs with a low risk of being hit by a vehicle are usually because vehicles move slowly around the worker, such as in the case of a parking lot attendant. In contrast, jobs such as highway maintenance are hazardous as the statutory speed limits are often somewhere around 70 mph.
In low-risk jobs, a Class 1 shirt will be enough. In high-risk jobs, you want to choose the shirt that will provide you with the best visibility possible, Class 3 safety reflective shirts. That said, if you need clarification on the type of reflective shirt best for your job, you’re better off choosing the higher-class shirts.
Working Conditions
Another important factor that goes along with your job is the conditions under which you’ll be working.
For example, if you primarily work in a warehouse, you may get away with a Class 1 or simpler safety reflective shirt as you don’t have to deal with varying light and weather conditions. If you wear a bright safety shirt without excessive reflective strips, someone operating a forklift has a high chance of seeing you.
If you work outdoors on the road, things become more complicated. You have to be ready for whatever the weather throws at you. Weather conditions that affect roadside visibility include:
- Rain
- Fog
- Snowstorms and blizzards
- Extreme sun
Moreover, there’s an additional element to worry about if you work on the roadside at night. This means that you also have to consider the potential versatility of the shirt you choose to withstand and be visible in all weather conditions.
Sometimes, however, this means you may also need multiple safety reflective shirts for different conditions. That’s something to remember if you’re working with a budget.
Health and Safety Standards Compliance
Finally, as a roadside worker, you are likely required to follow your state’s health and safety guidelines and regulations.
With every state carrying different requirements for occupational safety, it’s essential to review those requirements for all aspects of your job, including what reflective gear is necessary for your particular job and what type.
If you need help figuring out where to start, check with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for guidance. You should also ask your employer, as it is their responsibility to provide you with the safety gear you need and train you on how to use it.
Safety Reflective Shirt FAQ
How do safety reflective shirts work?
Safety reflective shirts have reflective stripes made from retro-reflective fabric. This fabric contains tiny glass beads of aluminum, which allows it to bounce light back to its source, similar to a mirror.
This is helpful in roadside construction as it is highly visible to drivers, especially from long distances.
What are the advantages of reflective fabric?
There are several advantages to wearing reflective fabric, with the main one being to ensure your safety.
Along with its protection, safety reflective fabric is also resilient to wear and tear. It resists temperature changes and UV rays, which is especially important for roadside workers who spend hours in the sun.
Why are safety shirts yellow?
Yellow and orange are colors that are part of most states’ safety standards. Safety shirts are often yellow or orange because those colors are easy to notice and provide the highest visibility.
This is also why you see yellow on warning signs, hazard symbols, and other safety signs. It’s easy for the human brain to recognize and associate with a warning.
These shirts often come in other colors, such as blue. The most essential element is the reflective strips to make you visible.
Draw Attention to Yourself
Safety reflective shirts are important for any outdoor workers, but are especially important for roadside workers or anyone near moving vehicles, no matter how slow they move.
In this situation, the most important thing to do is to draw attention to yourself and make yourself seen, which safety reflective shirts do. Remember, choosing a higher class shirt over a lower class to ensure your safety is always better.
Related Resources:
- How to Choose the Best Safety Vest for Your Industry or Activity
- Why You Need a Safety Vest with Lights and Where to Use It
- 6 Tips for Choosing the Right Construction Outfit & Work Clothes
- 6 Best Construction Worker Uniform Items That Are Durable & Tough