Visibility in high-risk environments
For employees who work daily in high-risk situations such as heavy traffic, adverse weather conditions or night work, maximum visibility is vital. This is why Class 3 has been established within the EN ISO 20471 standard: the highest protection category.
What does EN ISO 20471 Class 3 mean?
EN ISO 20471 Class 3 provides the highest level of visibility within the standard. The clothing is designed for hazardous work environments where workers must be clearly and remotely visible.
Clothing falling into this class must have at least:
- 0.80 m² of fluorescent material
- 0.20 m² of reflective material
In addition, Class 3 has additional requirements:
- Clothing must have long sleeves either
- Consist of a combination of safety clothing (e.g. a Class 2 body warmer + Class 2 pants = together Class 3)
The goal is full circumferential visibility of the body so that workers stand out well from all directions.
Where is EN ISO 20471 Class 3 used?
Class 3 is intended for situations where vehicles are moving at higher speeds (above 50 mph) or where workers are working right next to traffic streams or heavy machinery. Consider:
- Road workers along thoroughfares and highways
- Emergency and rescue services
- Railroad employees
- Traffic Controllers
- Workers at ports, airports or large industrial sites
In these high-risk environments, it is necessary for employees to be visible even at a greater distance and in difficult conditions.
Why is this standardization important?
Class 3 compliant clothing provides maximum visibility, significantly increasing the likelihood that drivers or operators will notice workers in a timely manner. Especially in low-light, rain or fog situations, this high visibility makes a crucial difference in safety.
