When your team works around live traffic, energized equipment, combustible dust, or flammable vapors, a “nice-to-have” shirt color or fabric quickly becomes a safety-critical decision. That’s where a knowledgeable distributor makes all the difference. Beyond simply supplying garments, a good distributor educates buyers and wearers—translating standards into simple choices that keep people safe and programs compliant.
At Hanover Uniform, we turn regulations into plain-English guidance, match risk to the correct garment specifications, and then make it easy to deploy across every location with fittings, sizing runs, and our Customer Remote Ordering System (CROS).
Hi-Vis: Getting Visibility—and Classification—Right
What we teach first: High-visibility apparel isn’t just “anything neon.” In the U.S., the benchmark is ANSI/ISEA 107-2020, which defines performance, color, retroreflective requirements, and garment classes based on exposure to moving vehicles and equipment. Class 1, 2, and 3 garments (and supplemental types like E for pants) are selected according to speed, worker task, and background complexity. The 2020 edition clarified categories (e.g., removal of the accessories class) and added guidance for single-use coveralls—details that matter in bids and audits. The ANSI Blog+1
How that looks in practice:
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Warehouse/yard ops near slow-moving equipment → often Type O, Class 1 or 2 vests or shirts.
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Roadside or utility crews with higher traffic speeds and complex backgrounds → typically Type R, Class 3 jackets, rainwear, or long-sleeve shirts to maximize conspicuity.
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Night or low-light work → ensure compliant retroreflective tape placement and width per ANSI/ISEA 107-2020, not just “reflective accents.” The ANSI Blog
We audit tasks and environments, then specify the correct class, configuration, and seasonal layers (e.g., Class 3 shells over Class 2 base layers) so visibility stays compliant year-round.
FR & Arc-Rated: Matching Hazards to the Right Standard
Electrical and flash-fire hazards require more than generic “FR” labels. We help customers distinguish between arc flash and flash fire risks and select garments tested to the correct standard.
Arc Flash (Electrical Work)
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OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 requires employers to assess arc energy and ensure outer layers are flame resistant/arc rated accordingly. OSHA’s enforcement guidance calls for reasonable incident energy estimates and arc-rated PPE when exposures warrant it. OSHA
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NFPA 70E provides the framework most companies follow. It organizes PPE into Categories 1–4, each with a minimum arc rating (cal/cm²) and garment system requirements (e.g., face shields vs. suit hoods). We map your tasks to the correct category and build layered systems that meet or exceed the needed cal/cm². Tyndale USA+1
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ASTM F1506-22 sets the performance specification for flame-resistant, arc-rated apparel: fabric arc ratings, flame resistance, durability, garment construction, and labeling. We verify certificates so your tags and test data back up your policy. ASTM International | ASTM+1
Flash Fire (Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Certain Manufacturing)
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NFPA 2112 covers garments designed to reduce burn injury in short-duration flash fires, with defined test methods (e.g., ASTM F1930, D6413) and certification requirements. If your hazard is flash fire—not electrical arc—we steer you to NFPA 2112-compliant garments instead of arc-rated-only solutions. NFPA+2Tyndale USA+2
A quick myth-buster we emphasize
“100% cotton is enough.” Not necessarily. OSHA notes that while cotton/wool don’t melt, they can ignite and continue to burn under higher heat exposures. Where arc or flash-fire hazards exist, you need tested FR/AR garments with the right ratings—full stop. OSHA
The Distributor’s Education Playbook
Here’s how we simplify a complex rulebook and turn it into day-to-day clarity for safety managers and wearers:
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Hazard & Task Mapping
We review job tasks, voltages/energized work practices, vehicle speeds, lighting conditions, weather, and visibility backgrounds. From there, we align each task to the appropriate ANSI class (Hi-Vis) and NFPA/ASTM/OSHA requirements (FR/AR). -
Standards-Backed Garment Shortlists
Instead of overwhelming catalogs, we present curated options with clear labels: Class & Type, cal/cm² arc ratings, NFPA 2112 certification, and seasonal layering plans (e.g., base layer, mid-layer, rain shell). -
Label & Data Verification
We validate certificates of compliance, arc-rating reports, and NFPA 2112 certifications, ensuring what’s on the label matches what’s in your safety policy and training materials. ASTM International | ASTM+1 -
Wearer Education & Fit
FR and Hi-Vis only protect if they’re worn correctly and fit properly. We run on-site fittings, explain what labels mean, how to layer without defeating protection, and laundering/damage replacement rules. -
Policy-to-Execution Tools
With CROS (Customer Remote Ordering System), we codify your safety rules into your catalog: workers can only order approved, compliant items for their role/location. Allowances and job codes keep spend on track while maintaining compliance. -
Lifecycle Management
We help set inspection intervals, define replacement triggers (e.g., tape delamination, chemical exposure, arc damage), and keep records for audits—so you can prove compliance, not just claim it.
Common Use-Cases
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Utility crews: Define NFPA 70E categories by task, pick ASTM F1506-compliant garments with the required cal/cm², and layer for winter without sacrificing arc protection. ASTM International | ASTM+1
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Road & bridge operations: Move teams to Type R, Class 3 outerwear for higher-speed corridors; ensure rain gear maintains ANSI/ISEA 107 compliance and doesn’t cover up retroreflective zones. The ANSI Blog
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Oil & gas / process facilities: Standardize on NFPA 2112 garments for flash-fire environments; train on proper underlayers and garment condition checks. Tyndale USA
Why Hanover Uniform
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Standards-first guidance from a team that lives in the details—so your selections stand up to OSHA and internal EHS audits. OSHA+1
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On-site fittings & deep inventory to get the right class, rating, and size to every employee quickly.
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CROS controls to lock in compliant choices by job code, location, and allowance—simplifying rollouts across multi-site operations.
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Full program support: embellishment without obstructing retroreflective zones, seasonally adjusted assortments, and data you can hand to auditors.
Ready to tighten up safety and compliance?
If you’d like a quick standards walkthrough—ANSI/ISEA 107 for Hi-Vis, NFPA 70E and ASTM F1506 for arc flash, and NFPA 2112 for flash fire—plus a shortlist tailored to your tasks, we’ll map it out and build your compliant catalog inside CROS.
Let’s make “the right garment for the job” the easiest decision your team makes this year.