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High Visibility Warning Garments Required by OSHA

November 14th, 2009

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OSHA's new letter of interpretation requires that construction workers wear high-visibility warning garments.

WASHINGTON - High-visibility warning garments are required safety attire for highway and road construction workers according to a new letter of interpretation recently released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

"Highway construction workers should not suffer serious or fatal injuries simply because they could not be seen," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "Requiring the use of reflective vests is essential to help prevent workers from being injured or killed."

OSHA considers road and construction traffic a well-recognized hazard to highway/road construction workers. Bureau of Labor Statistics reinforced the need for using safety apparel when data from 2003 to 2007 showed there were 425 road construction work zone fatalities.

Employers must become familiar with standards applicable to their workplaces.

Contact George Rex, Safety & Health Compliance, for more information, or you can read more Safety Works News.