A Hi Vis Winter

Based on the National Weather Service’ Climate Prediction Center, here is a summary of the main factors which usually influence seasonal climates:

• El Nino and La Nina
• Trends – Approximated by the Optimal Climate Normals (OCN) Tool – difference between the most recent 10-year mean temperature or 15-year mean of precipitation and the 30-year climatology Period (currently 1971-2000)
• The Tropical 30-60 DAY oscillation – otherwise called the Madden Julian
• The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) And the Pacific North American (PNA) patterns
• The Pacific Decadal Oscillation(PDO)
• Persistently dry or wet soil in the summer and snow ice cover anomalies acting as a kind of memory system
• Statistical forecast tools
• Dynamical forecast models
• Consolidation (CON) - Makes optimum use of the known skills in our forecast tools

Based on the numbers provided, here are some of the November December January (NDJ) 3-month temperature outlooks:

• Below average temps over much of Alaska, Washington and coastal regions of Oregon and California
• The 3-month precipitation outlook calls for above average median precipitation almost through the Mississippi Valley
• In locations where the likelihoods of seasonal mean temps and rainfall are similar to probabilities, equal chances of low, mean, or high averages are likely

For graphical displays of forecasts http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

 National Weather Service’ Climate Prediction Center http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/90day/fxus05.html  

Hi Vis Supply has a full line of high visibility winter jackets and rain gear for the winter months.

ANSI 107 FOR Hi Vis Gets Updated for 2010

The beginning of 2010 marked the highly anticipated revision to the 107-2004 High Visibility Standard. This Standard is updated every 5 years and is now labeled ANSI/ISEA 107-2010. It specifies performance requirements for high visibility safety apparel and headwear PPE. Specific performance requirements are included for:

• Color
• Retro-reflection and minimum areas
• Recommended configurations of the materials and design

Below is an outline of the primary differences between ANSI/ISEA107-2010, and the previous ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Standard.

GARMENT DESIGN AND REFLECTIVE PLACEMENT - A class 1 or a class 2 garment must now have reflective material in the shoulder area, which provides greater visibility when a worker is bending over, or at angles that could be potentially missed on a garment without “vertical” reflective material over the shoulders.

FLAME RESISTANT (FR) LABELING - The 107-2004 standard did not address flame resistant labeling. ANSI 107-2010 requires all flame resistant garments to be tested within at least 1 of 7 ASTM or NFPA test methods, including a description of the flame resistance criteria. If a manufacturer wants to mark high visibility apparel as being FR, the garment must meet one of the FR tests in the 107-2010 Standard and certify its conformance to the FR requirement. For specific test methods, a copy of the new 107-2010 Standard can be purchased directly from the ISEA.

RAINWEAR – There have been new testing requirements added for rainwear. Three different test methods will define rainwear as either water repellant, water resistant or water proof.

GARMENT SERVICE LIFE GUIDELINES - ANSI 107-2010 also attempts to help users determine garment service life. Areas to consider are:

• garment use
• type of garment
• environment
• laundering methods
• exposure to the environment

In addition, it references the U.S. Federal Highway Administration statement about high-visibility life expectancy. (Federal Register/Vol. 71 No. 226/Friday, November 24, 2006/rules and regulations/p. 67798

Hi-Vis Bombers

With America's infrastructure in the process of receiving a much needed facelift, there is also a growing need for more highway and roadside workers. Even while highway worker fatalities have decreased each year since 2007 (from almost 1,250 to nearly 750) safer work zones are absolutely necessary to keep this positive trend.

Fundamental issues for increasing highway worker safety include:

trained workers - for engaging in high-traffic and setting up control devices

planning - routes, spotters and utility areas to avoid

speed control - flaggers, postings, law enforcement

lighting - for working at night

separation devices - use based on speed and alignment of traffic pattern

hi-visibility apparel - for differentiation from traffic, equipment and at hard to see times (dusk and dawn)

Workers need gear such as these water-repellent bombers that keep you warm, dry and visible. What's more, they're ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant - meaning their usable in the most high speed conditions. These economy jackets are designed with a "stow-away" hidden collar hood and four pockets - 2 outside pockets, including a chest radio pocket and a right chest multi-use pocket with a zipper closure for extra warmth. Great protection and a great value.

High Visibility for End of Summer

Stay cool and protect yourself from the sun with an ANSI Class 3 Micro-Fiber long sleeve shirt. This shirt features Ultra-Cool™ micro-fiber polyester material with 2" wide Super Lite silver reflective stripes and (1) left breast pocket. Available in Lime and Orange; M-5XL.
ANSI Class 3 garments allow a worker full range of duties while keeping them safe when working with backgrounds not conducive to good visibility. Class 3 visibility surpasses Class 2 with background and retro-reflective reflective material added to the arms and/or legs – for areas with vehicle speeds above 50 mph.

These garments are designed for vehicles and equipment to be able to fully identify a workers complete body. This new ANSI Class 3 standard defining body requirement is in support of the MUTCD definition of night time and inclement conditions.

ANSI Class 3 apparel is typically used by roadway construction personnel and flaggers, utility workers, survey crews and emergency response personnel - in dangerous conditions with high-speed driving, equipment, large operations and nighttime viewing.

HiVisSupply is dedicated to serving those men and women who continuously and courageously work in hazardous conditions for the sake, ease and benefit of others.

HiVis for Oil Spill Crews Even at Night

As the BP Oil response continues, workers don high-visibility and hi-reflectivity gear even at night. This image was taken off the beaches of Pensacola, Florida. And as recently as July, beaches were closed due to oil impacts. Efforts were made to have the shorelines of Florida, Alabama and Louisiana cleared for the holidays, but effects were far more damaging in many areas. Permanent booms have been installed in some areas, rock barriers as well as sand washing systems have been used, and good old-fashioned shovel clean-up crews work night and day on the mess made by the Deepwater Horizon.

ANSI Class 1, 2 and 3 vests are available for oil responders, contaminated beach and shoreline clean-up crews and other workers helping to alleviate the stresses on wildlife affected by this disaster. As Floridians, we are greatful to those who are tirelessly working to preserve the Gulf Coast's natural habitat, it's ecosystem and the economy surrounding off-shore enterprises.

Safety Crackdown - Buzzed and Impaired Driving

Today, texting while driving is getting all of the attention on America's roadways. States are implementing laws and associations are trying to change the way we think about cell-phone use in general. But a major concern for the nation's drivers and road workers is still buzzed and impaired driving, and if you plan to hit the road this summer, know that enforcement officers ARE out there and they WILL find you. 

Impaired driving continues to be one of the deadliest crimes in America. In 2008, there were 11,773 deaths due to alcohol - nearly 1/3 of all traffic fatalities in the US. These drivers all had blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher. This means there was an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 45 minutes. Thankfully, that number is down from 13,041 in 2007 - but it's not enough.  

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has formed a national strategy to stop impaired driving and created programs across the United States that aid motorists in the reporting of impaired drivers to law enforcement. You will notice an increasing amount of officers patrolling with increased prosecution for offenders.

HiVis Supply would like to remind all drivers and road workers out there that safety is important to us all, because at the end of the day, especially during vacation, getting home to our loved ones is what's important. HiVis is dedicated to keeping road workers safe by providing hi-visibility products and gear that get people noticed and keep them safe. Have a great summer, and stay safe.

Hi-Vis for Gulf Oil Spill Response

Use of hi-visibility clothing has been readily evident with gulf oil spill workers and clean-up crew in response to the BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster back in April. Since then, environmental clean-up, contaminated water and Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana shoreline workers have been tasked to alleviate all signs of the oil spill from contaminated beaches and coastal waterways, and posting beach closure signs, oil spill clean-up signs, no water contact signs and oil spill response signs.

Hi-visibility gear allows workers to be seen even in low-light conditions as crews work in the early morning hours and well into the night often in very bright and dangerous conditions. The use of hi-reflectivity gear also denotes workers from civilians and allows managers to keep tabs on their employees.

HiVis Supply salutes these men and women who are working diligently around the clock to help wildlife survive this catastrophe and ease the burden on our precious coastal ecosystems. There is no way to determine at this time how long the BP oil spill will contaminate our environment, close our beaches and shut down water operations, or to what degree the 2010 oil spill will affect our lives in the years to come. Only time will tell, and we’re here to help.