Surveying and Publications

Surveying has often been called the 2nd oldest trade in the world, and dates back to the Egyptians in 3000 BC. Here are a couple of the major trade publications:

Professional Surveyor Magazine This publication has been around for over 30 years, and has a 30,000 subscription base. It serves the measurement and positioning community, including surveying and engineering companies; photogrammetry and aerial service firms; federal, state and municipal government; military organizations; GIS Service companies; educational institutions; utility companies; construction and mining businesses; dealers and distributors and/or developers of software, engineering and/or surveying equipment and supplies; transportation organizations (eg. D.O.T.) and others allied to the field. See the Business Publication Circulation Statement.

The American Surveyor  The American Surveyor provides readers with the latest news and developments affecting land surveyors and the measurement & positioning technologies. categories covered include events and education, business, equipment, hardware, GPS, Photogrammetry, GIS, maps, cartography and LiDAR.

Professional Surveyors Vest

The Professional Surveyors vest, from ML Kishigo, is designed to exceed the demanding needs of a highly functional surveyors vest. It is constructed with a solid polyester front /Ultra-Cool mesh back; and features a 2" 3M Scotchlite reflective material laminated to 3" contrasting color – increasing daytime visibility. Other features of the vest include: left and right mic holders; zipper front closure; two lapel grommets; reinforced webbing at high stress points; and a plush neck liner for comfort. The pockets of this surveyors vest include: left chest 2-tier pocket with dual function flap that can be held open by Velcro; large right gusseted pocket; outside lower pockets with flaps; left and right stake pockets; left and right elastic spray can pockets; lower inside left and right full length zipper pockets with load bearing straps; and a hidden back pouch with left and right zipper access. Available in high visibility Lime and Orange; sizes M-5XL. Choose from both ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant and ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant vests.

Three great HiVis Products for End of Summer

Charger Safety Glasses

The Charger safety glasses, from Bobster, feature anti-fog, polycarbonate lenses and a clean wrap around design. The durable, high-gloss, black nylon frame fits securely and comfortably, even on smaller faces. The Charger safety glasses come with a microfiber pouch for easy cleaning and storage when not being worn. ANSI Z87.1 approved.

Black Series Windbreaker

The Black Series Windbreaker by ML Kishigo is activewear inspired high-vis apparel. The windbreaker is a lightweight and flexible design, that utilizes durable, black ripstop material in high wear areas along the sides and under the arms. It also features waist cinches hidden in the front pockets - keeping a clean look. Other features of the windbreaker include: adjustable cuffs, shoulder blade vents, two outside lower pockets with zippers, left chest vertical pocket with waterproof zipper and 2' wide VizLite reflective material. Available in high visibility Lime or Orange; M-5XL. ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant.

Professional Surveyor's Vest

The Professional Surveyors vest, from ML Kishigo, is designed to exceed the demanding needs of a highly functional surveyors vest. It is constructed with a solid polyester front /Ultra-Cool mesh back; and features a 2" 3M Scotchlite reflective material laminated to 3" contrasting color – increasing daytime visibility. Other features of the vest include: left and right mic holders; zipper front closure; two lapel grommets; reinforced webbing at high stress points; and a plush neck liner for comfort. The pockets of this surveyors vest include: left chest 2-tier pocket with dual function flap that can be held open by Velcro; large right gusseted pocket; outside lower pockets with flaps; left and right stake pockets; left and right elastic spray can pockets; lower inside left and right full length zipper pockets with load bearing straps; and a hidden back pouch with left and right zipper access. Available in high visibility Lime and Orange; sizes M-5XL. Choose from both ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant and ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant vests.

HiVis Supply is proud to offer high visibility products for a variety of job duties like roadside construction, manufacturing, plant assembly, mining, surveying, forestry, power generator construction, shipyard construction, warehouse and facility maintenance, utilities department, sewer maintenance, electrical line construction, wind energy construction, ethanol and oil refinery and many others.

Intense Heat Plays a Part in Roadside Safety

Asphalt and concrete are tough materials to deal with, let along in the intense heat and overbearing sun. In the heat of the summer, roadside safety becomes more than just remaining visible to motor traffic - it's also about staying cool.

The season requires workers to consider two additional factors, sun and heat. The primary place to keep covered from the sun is the head and neck. For this HiVisSupply offers a variety of hats and neck shades. In the scorching heat even the layering of a high-vis vest atop a regular t-shirt can be oppressive. That’s why we recommend our moisture wicking microfiber t-shirts which keep you in compliance and considerably cooler. ML Kishigo, makes products that have you covered for any weather and any season.
In the video above, blog they briefly show the best products for optimizing comfort in the summer heat.

The HiVis shorts, from Vinatronics, are designed for both comfort and visibility. They are made from an all-season, breathable polyester with 2" 3M Scotchlite silver reflective material. Other features include: drawstring waist adjustment and two waist pocket openings. Combine these ANSI Class E shorts with an ANSI Class 2 vest for and ANSI Class 3 compliant ensemble. Available in high visibility Lime or Orange. Made in the USA. ANSI/ISEA Class E compliant.

The Brilliant Series from ML Kishigo

The Brilliant Series line of high-viz workwear is the premium line for ML Kishigo, and the safety enhancements they provide far outweigh the premium you’ll pay over standard hi-viz. For example, the Brilliant Series Economy Vest is up to 60% brighter than its standard counterpart when viewed at a distance. When comparing their suggested retail prices, that equates to only 3 pennies for every percent of increased visibility. They calculated the remarkable affect by analyzing a 1080i HD video frame at the distance of approximately 30 to 60 feet. By zooming in and mapping out the identical area/proportions for both vests (Brilliant Class 2 vs Standard) they measured the individual visual footprint of each. This is based exclusively upon luminosity of the cars headlights hitting the reflective material.

Thoroughly measuring the gray levels pixel by pixel, then taking the average across the entire area of each image, you can see that the Brilliant series has up to 60% more of a visible footprint at night.
When comparing the histogram graphs (left side shows level of black, right shows level of white, with every level of gray in between), across the charts there are much higher numbers of pixels for each level of gray all the way up to white, and a significantly lower levels of black pixels with the Brilliant Series than with the standard.
Go to HiVis Supply for the very best from ML Kishigo, and the very best for your workers. They can’t afford not to wear the best and the brightest.

Hi-Vis Apparel Really High Up

John Makely / msnbc.com

The above photo shows a One World Trade Center electrician, Victor Rosario, taking his lunch break while overlooking the 9/11 Memorial from the 35th floor.

One World Trade Center, the monolith being built to replace the twin towers destroyed in the Sept. 11 attacks, claimed the title of New York City's tallest skyscraper on Monday, as workers erected steel columns that made its unfinished skeleton a little over 1,250 feet high, just enough to peek over the roof of the observation deck on the Empire State Building.

"This project is much more than steel and concrete. It is a symbol of success for the nation," said David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority, the agency that owns the World Trade Center.
The milestone is only a preliminary one. Workers are still adding floors to the building once called the Freedom Tower. It isn't expected to reach its full height for at least another year, at which point it is likely to be declared the tallest building in the U.S., and third tallest in the world.

Excluding its antenna, the Empire State Building's total height to 1,250 feet. That was still high enough to make the skyscraper the world's tallest from 1931 until 1972.

One World Trade Center would still be smaller than the Willis Tower in Chicago, formerly known as the Sears Tower, which tops out at 1,451 feet (not including its antennas).

As for the world's tallest building, the undisputed champion is the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, which opened in 2010 and reaches 2,717 feet, Not counting about 5 feet of aircraft lights and other equipment perched on top, of course.

HiVis Supply salutes the men and women who have worked tirelessly to rebuild New York City's One World Trade Center, along with the hopes and dreams of the people who lived through - and lost - loved ones in the tragedy that was 9/11.

Economy Series Class 3 T-Shirt

These ANSI Class 3 economy series t-shirts, from ML Kishigo, feature Ultra-Cool microfiber polyester material with 2" wide silver reflective stripes and (1) left breast pocket. The microfiber polyester material wicks away moisture - helping to keep you both dry and cool. Available in both high visibility Lime or Orange; M-5XL. ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Class 3 compliant.

National Work Zone Awareness Week Begins

Here's a great article by Accuform Signs' Ashley Price, Merchandising Manager and blogger at Notable Regulations. You can email her with any questions regarding this or past blog posts.

Imagine showing up to work every day and being faced with the constant danger of speeding, distracted motorists whizzing by only mere feet from you while also being surrounded by a bustle of heavy equipment, materials and machinery. This is “the office” for workers building and improving our American roadways.

This week (April 23-27) is the 13^th annual National Work Zone Awareness Week. Started in 1999, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in coordination with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), sponsor the week-long event that strives to spread awareness of the myriad of dangers in highway work zones. Many states are also now hosting their own Work Zone Awareness events.

This year’s national kick-off event will be hosted by the Missouri Department of Transportation on Route 141 where a relocation project is underway near St. Louis to upgrade the three-lane road to a six-lane freeway. Missouri was chosen because of their level of commitment to work zone awareness. The theme chosen for this year’s awareness week is “Don’t Barrel Through Work Zones! Drive Smart to Arrive Alive”.

In 2010, there were 576 work zone fatalities that resulted from 514 fatal motor vehicle crashes, with 80% being the vehicle operators and passengers and 20% workers, pedestrians and cyclists. On the up-side, those numbers are down and have been decreasing steadily over the years. Work zone fatalities are actually decreasing at a faster rate than overall highway fatalities - proof of the national and state-level commitment to safer roads and programs like the National Work Zone Awareness Week. Let's give our support to continuing to reduce fatalities and injuries on our nation's roadways. Consider participating in awareness week at your place of business and even in your home.

So, as you drive through any of the thousands of work zones across our country today, remember to slow down - for you, for your family, for workers, for the families who could lose a parent, a child, a sibling, a friend. As we here at Accuform Signs say, "Safety is a Family Value".
For more information about the National Work Zone Awareness Week and for more resources visit:

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/outreach/wz_awareness.htm
• American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA): http://www.atssa.com/NewsPR/NationalWorkZoneAwarenessWeek.aspx

For information on national regulations and policies governing work zone safety, visit: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/policy.htm
Work Zone Fatalities Charts Source: National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse and US DOT Federal Highway Administration

Class 2 T-Shirt with Flat Stitch Panels

This ANSI Class 2 t-shirt, from ML Kishigo, takes comfort and contrast to a new level. The flat-stitched contrast panels improve daytime visibility and significantly improves comfort and coolness over standard layered contrasting panels. The shirt is constructed from microfiber polyester material that wicks away moisture - keeping you dry and cool. The shirts also feature 2" silver reflective material and left chest pocket. Available in both high visibility Lime and Orange. Sizes M-5XL. ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant.

HiVisSupply is proud to offer high visibility apparel for a variety of job duties like roadside construction, manufacturing, plant assembly, mining, surveying, forestry, power generator construction, shipyard construction, warehouse and facility maintenance, utilities department, sewer maintenance, electrical line construction, wind energy construction, ethanol and oil refinery and many others. HiVis Supply offers great savings and product selection for helping you maintain a safe and OSHA/ANSI compliant work environment. If you're looking for discounted safety equipment or identification products on sale, visit our web specials page or sign up for our email promotions.

Struck-by Accidents in Construction/Vehicle Back-Over

 The US Department of Labor (DOL) has produced a series of prevention videos regarding safety in industry and on the jobsite. To see the series, go here.

In the U.S., more than 800 construction workers die every year while on the job. Being struck by vehicles, heavy equipment, and other objects is the top cause of injuries and the second cause of death for construction workers, killing more than 150 workers in 2009. But these injuries and deaths can be prevented. 

Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace and required protective equipment. You'll see that taking the right protective steps saves lives. 

All scenes are based on true stories. A surveyor was spray painting the ground to outline the area for a new building pad. At the same time, the driver of a wheel tractor scraper was moving forward to get the ground ready for pad construction. There was no spotter at the site, and there was no internal traffic control plan in place. Before backing up to go over the ground again, the driver checked his rearview and side mirrors. He didn't see anyone in his mirrors, so he  up. The driver's back-up alarm didn't work, so the surveyor did not hear the scraper coming towards her. As the driver backed up, he ran over the surveyor. She died from the injuries.

Let's look at the events leading up to this tragic incident, and see how it could have been prevented. When a vehicle on a construction site has an obstructed view to the rear OSHA's standard requires employers to provide that vehicle with a working back-up alarm, or a spotter on site to tell the driver when it is safe to back up. Now let's see what happens when protective measures are in place. Although there is now a working back-up alarm, it is barely audible over the background noise, so as an added safety measure there is also a spotter on site wearing a reflective vest. There is also an internal traffic control plan in place. This plan helps protect workers because it tells the drivers of moving vehicles and equipment the safest way to move around the work site. So this time, before backing up, the scraper's driver waits for the spotter's signal so he knows the area is clear to enter. Now as the driver reverses, the back-up alarm can be heard and no workers are near the scraper.

This example shows the importance of employers following OSHA's vehicle safety standards for construction sites to ensure that workers are provided with a safe workplace.

These types of construction worker deaths are preventable.

The protection measures shown here save workers' lives. Please follow OSHA's safety standards at worksites: it could be the difference between life and death. If you would like more information, contact OSHA at www.osha.gov or 1-800-321-OSHA.

To view the video or get the transcript, go here.

Professional Surveyors Vest

The Professional Surveyors vest, from ML Kishigo, is designed to exceed the demanding needs of a highly functional surveyors vest. It is constructed with a solid polyester front /Ultra-Cool mesh back; and features a 2" 3M Scotchlite reflective material laminated to 3" contrasting color – increasing daytime visibility. Other features of the vest include: left and right mic holders; zipper front closure; two lapel grommets; reinforced webbing at high stress points; and a plush neck liner for comfort. The pockets of this surveyors vest include: left chest 2-tier pocket with dual function flap that can be held open by Velcro; large right gusseted pocket; outside lower pockets with flaps; left and right stake pockets; left and right elastic spray can pockets; lower inside left and right full length zipper pockets with load bearing straps; and a hidden back pouch with left and right zipper access. Available in high visibility Lime and Orange; sizes M-5XL. Choose from both ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant and ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant vests.

HiVis Supply is a reseller of high visibility apparel including hivis vests, ANSI Class 2 and ANSI Class 3 for a variety of job duties like construction, shipyard construction, and warehouse and facility maintenance.

 

Minimum Sign Retroreflectivity Timeline

Deadlines were established in 2007 to implement minimum levels of retroreflectivity for signage per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

Maintaining Minimum Retroreflectivity

1. January 22, 2012: By this date, roadway owners must adopt a plan to ensure that their signs meet Minimum Levels of Retroreflectivity by the dates cited below. The FHWA lists 5 options, among which are simple visual inspection and blanket replacement of groups of signs at the end of their “useful life” as stated by the manufacturer.

2. January 22, 2015: Regulatory and Warning Signs and Post-Mounted Signs must meet retroreflectivity requirements.

3. January 22, 2018: Overhead and Street Name signs must meet retroreflectivity requirements. If street name signs meet retroreflectivity requirements and are all CAPITAL letters, they may remain in service for the remainder of their useful life. They never have to be changed out only because of the capital letter/mixed case issue.

FHWA estimated the cost for making these retroreflectivity improvements throughout the entire United States to be $37 million dollars over a 10 year period. The reason that this figure is lower than some estimates reported in the media is that the implementation timetable detailed above was designed to roughly coincide with the useful life of existing signs. Thus, it is likely that most of them would have been replaced anyway.

For more information, check out the Sign Retroreflectivity Toolkit.

Also, check out the FHWA Sign Visibility page.

Fleece Lined Bomber Jacket

The fleece lined bomber jacket from ML Kishigo is ANSI/ISEA Class 3 compliant, and features a durable, waterproof shell with a fleece liner and fleece lined hood. In addition to the high visibility color material, the jacket also utilizes black material in the areas which most commonly get dirty - helping the jacket maintain a bright and clean appearance. The fleece lined hood is both removable and can also be hidden. Also includes, 2" wide 3M Scotchlite reflective material, right chest wallet pocket, left chest radio pocket, zipper slash side pockets and drawstring hood. Available in high visibility Lime and Orange; sizes M-5XL.


HiVis Supply is a reseller of high visibility apparel including ANSI approved clothing, safety vests and traffic vests for a variety of job duties like roadside construction, manufacturing and plant assembly.

Professional Surveyor's Vests

The American Surveyor is a website for surveyors by surveyors. It contains news, newsletters, a directory, store and tons of other information. You can subscribe to their magazine, learn about new products and more. The blog is written for land surveyors by land surveyors. Topics include surveying, mapping, cartography, GPS, GNSS and other geospatial technology hot topics. There is even a videos tab. Here is a video using LIDAR (light detection and ranging). The technique uses laser pulses to construct super-precise 3-D images. It’s similar to radar, constantly sending out and receiving signals, but LIDAR can map nearly anything. It’s increasing the accuracy of aerial maps tremendously; indeed, the U.S. Geological Survey is currently working to remap every state with LIDAR. It’s even been used to make music videos—watch Radiohead’s “House of Cards."

HiVis Supply carries class 2 and class 3 surveyor's vests by ML Kishigo, Vinatronics and 3A Safety. ML Kishigo has a full line of professional surveyors vests designed to accommodate surveyors in any environment. Equally durable and functional, their "tougher-than-tough" Surveyors Vests are packed with high-performance features including reinforced pockets and webbing, storage pouches, heavy-duty openings and nylon trim, reinforced webbing, and Ultra Cool™ mesh panel. All mostly made in the U.S. Download the Kishigo Surveyor's Vest brochure.

Brilliant Series Class 2 Heavy Duty Vest

The Brilliant Series vests from ML Kishigo provides maximum visibility. In addition to the high visibility background material and the 2" wide VizLite reflective tape with contrasting color, the vest also utilizes Brilliant Trim reflective edging which considerably improves the vest's low light visibility. The vest is constructed of a durable and breathable 100% polyester mesh and the vest features include a zipper closure, mic tabs on chest, 2-tier pencil pocket, flapped radio pocket, inside patch pockets, outside cargo pockets with adjustable flaps, and reinforced webbing for added strength. The vest is available in both high visibility lime or orange. It's also ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant.

By choosing a vest which is above what is generally necessary, you will ensure the safety of your employees and help to make them as secure in their job as possible. Even an ANSI class 3 surveyors vest can provide you with an abundance of visibility, typically with some additional options that will rate them for breakaway material.

The need for a safety ANSI class 2 vest for their job would include individuals who are working when the weather conditions are poor and visibility may be low. These are also generally preferred for when traffic near the worker will exceed 25 mph. Some of the most popular professions which use these types of vests would include airport ground workers, law enforcement officials, railroad workers and crossing guards.

Visit HiVis Supply for all of your high visibility apparel needs.

Black Series Windbreaker

The Black Series Windbreaker is the ML Kishigo new break out item for 2011. Never before has there been such a successful blend of work wear functionality with active wear style. Impressive features and attention to detail make this jacket a hit.




Hi-Vis Supply is proud to carry ML Kishigo products as well as other top hi-vis brands such as 3A Safety, Accuform Signs, Cornerstone, Cortina Safety Products Group, Flagstaff, Marpac Corporation, Safety Gear USA, Utility Pro Wear, Vinatronics and VIZ-Life.

Mandating the MUTCD Final Rule for High Visibility

This excerpt comes from an article written on the ML Kishigo blog Understanding the MUTCD Final Rule.

Proper understanding of compliance issues is just as important to the smooth operation of companies that are mandated to comply, as it is to the safety of their employees. A clearer picture of the MUTCD regulations it defines is essential.

On December 16th 2009, the Federal Register Final Rule and the revised 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) were released. The ruling establishes the MUTCD as the primary regulatory document mandating the use of high-visibility apparel for all affected workers in the United States. The primary aspect of the ruling however, lies in the mandated class of garment and the environments in which affected workers are required to comply.

In October of 2008 the Federal Highway Administration, or FHWA, mandated the use of Class 2 and Class 3 high visibility garments on all Federal-Aid highways. The new MUTCD ruling solidifies the FHWA mandate, which took affect in 2008. Additionally, between the time of the October mandate and the publication of the MUTCD ruling, the FHWA expanded the mandate of the affected regulation areas from just Federal-aid highways to cover all roads which are open to public travel. Compliance to this amended regulation will be phased in until it takes full effect on December 31st, 2011. The one exclusion is private property in which you pass through a traffic control gate.
 
To read the article in its entirety, click here.

ML Kishigo Featured in Inc. Magazine

For 30+ years, ML Kishigo has been developing smarter safety and high-vis apparel products that meet customers' specialized needs. They don't just meet standards in safety and high-vis apparel - they exceed them. Kishigo prides themselves in continual innovation, quality control checks and rigorous testing. ML Kishigo is your choice for traffic, construction, surveyor, public safety/incident command, fire-resistant, industrial, clean room and other high-visibility needs. Recently, ML Kishigo was features in the October issue of Inc. Magazine. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Safety vest - High-visibility vests are a must for airport ground crews, given that jet noise and protective ear coverings make it difficult to hear danger approaching. The bright-yellow color and reflective stripes on this vest, custom made for Delta by M.L. Kishigo in Santa Ana, California, help keep workers out of harm's way. CEO Loren Wall founded the company in 1973 and named it after his late wife, Mary Lou Kishigo. It has 95 employees and makes a full line of safety clothing for the construction, energy, and public safety industries.

HiVis Supply is proud to offer high visibility apparel for a variety of job duties like roadside construction, manufacturing, plant assembly, mining, surveying, forestry, power generator construction, shipyard construction, warehouse and facility maintenance, utilities department, sewer maintenance, electrical line construction, wind energy construction, ethanol and oil refinery and many others. HiVis Supply offers great savings and product selection for helping you maintain a safe and OSHA/ANSI compliant work environment.