New Standard for High-visibility Public Safety Vests

In November 2006, the ANSI/ISEA 207-2006accordance with the new 207-2006 standard
voluntary standard was announced forhave higher visibility, with checkered color-coded
high-visibility safety vests used by fireretro-reflective striping. The design may include an
departments, emergency responders,identification panel and /or trim on the vest with
Department of Transportation officials and lawthe following colors: red for fire officials, green for
enforcement. The National Traffic Incidentemergency responders, orange for DOT
Management Coalition, representing the publicpersonnel, and blue for law enforcement.
safety industry, was involved in the developmentThis new standard was pushed through at a rapid
of the standard.speed. One reason it was able to be fast-tracked
One reason for the new standard was thewas because of the well-developed and widely
recognition of the need for public safetyaccepted ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 American National
employees to be easily identifiable and visible inStandard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel, which
emergency situations and multi-agency incidents.has many of the same guidelines concerning the
Another was that these occupations need specialquality and performance of the materials used to
garments that can facilitate gear. For example,make highly visible garments. For example, both
the design of a compliant vest would allow accessstandards specify how to measure the luminance
to medical equipment or to gear carried on belts,of fluorescent color fabrics before and after being
such as radios and guns. Safety Vests made inexposed to perspiration and laundering.