11/25/2008
New requirements in effect for high-visibility clothes along highways
MEDIA ADVISORY: Please note the following requirements for all members of the news media who work within the rights-of-way of interstate highways, U.S. and state highways, and any other road that receives federal funds.
- - - - -
BOISE - Anyone working in the rights-of-way on federal aid highways whether those workers are Idaho Transportation Department employees, contract workers, emergency personnel or members of the news media are required to wear approved high-visibility safety clothes, effective this week.
A new rule, requiring the use of high-visibility safety clothing, went into effect Monday (Nov. 24), explains Cheryl Rost, ITD's Safety and Risk Management manager. The federal code requires the use of high-visibility apparel and headwear, Class 2 or 3. The retro-reflective apparel must be worn on all rights-of-way of highways that receive federal aid, including interstates, U.S. highways and state highways, and some local routes.
Clothing must meet American National Standards Institute/International Safety Equipment Association 107-2004 specifications. The rule is implemented to lower the likelihood of fatalities or injuries to workers on foot in federal highway work zones.
The rule defines workers as people on foot whose duties place them within the right-of-way of a Federal-Aid highway, such as highway construction and maintenance forces, survey crews, utility crews, responders to incidents within the right-of-way, and law enforcement personnel when directing traffic, investigating crashes and handling lane closures, obstructed roadways and disasters within the right-of-way of a Federal-Aid highway.