CSA Z96

High-Visibility Safety Apparel

This Is The Third Edition Of CSA Z96, High-Visibility Safety Apparel. It Supersedes The Previous Editions Published In 2009 And 2002. This Edition Incorporates Advice On Selection, Use, And Care Of High-Visibility Safety Material Taken From The CSA Z96.1 Guideline (See Annex A). It Is Designed To Be In Technical Harmony With ANSI/ISEA 107 And ISO 20471.

 The Focus Of This Standard Is On The Performance Of Retroreflective And Background Materials Incorporated Into Garments Intended To Provide The Wearer With Increased Conspicuity Under Both Wellilluminated And Low-Light Or Dark Work Environmental Conditions. It Sets Out Levels Of Retroreflective Performance (I.E., Light Reflected From Vehicle Headlights As Viewed By The Vehicle Operator), The Colours And Luminosity Of Background Materials, And The Human Body Coverage Of The High-Visibility Components. Three Classes Of Garments Have Been Defined Based On Body Coverage Of Bright Or Fluorescent-Coloured Materials, And Two Levels Of Performance Have Been Specified For Retroreflective Materials. In Addition, Special Allowances Have Been Made For Garments That Are Primarily Intended To Provide Flame Protection.

 Note: The Criteria On Special Allowances For Flame-Protective Apparel Have Been Moved From Clause 7 In The Previous Edition To Clause 4.4 In This Edition.

 This Standard Recommends That A Hazard Assessment Be Carried Out On Each Job To Determine The Risk To Workers Of Being Struck By Moving Vehicles And The Environmental Conditions Under Which Work Is Performed. For This Purpose, Annex A Provides Advice For The Application Of High-Visibility Safety Apparel (HVSA) To Specific Risk Categories And Job Types. This Guidance Material Recognizes That The First Line Of Defence Against Personal Injury Accidents Is To Control The Design Of The Workplace And The Exposure Of Workers To Moving Vehicles (E.G., Through The Use Of Physical Barriers). Improved Conspicuity Of Workers Through The Use Of HVSA Is A Second Line Of Defence, Providing A Greater Cushion Of Warning To Vehicle Operators So That They Might Avoid Endangering Workers On Foot.

 As An Aid To Users Of This Standard, Examples Of Compliant Apparel Designs Are Shown In Annex B. Purchasers Of HVSA Should Seek Proof That The Materials Used And The Design Of The Garment Meet The Requirements Of This Standard. As An Aid To This Process, Examples Of ManufacturersÆ Compliance Self-Declaration Forms Have Been Added In Annex C.