PA Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 38

Road workers’ apparel must reflect new law      

Sunday, 06 July 2008 

By BOB KALINOWSKI / Staff Writer 

In a few months, anyone working on a roadway that receives federal aid will have to wear a reflective safety vest. 

The federal mandate applies to police, fire and ambulance crews who respond to accidents or other incidents, and also road crews, tow truck drivers and members of the media covering a story. 

Area Pennsylvania Department of Transportation crews are already abiding by the requirement. Volunteers who clean up litter on roadways will have to begin wearing them, if they haven’t already, by the Nov. 24 deadline. 

“Safety is a part of our work, yet workers are killed regardless of what they are wearing by aggressive, impatient or distracted drivers. Any effort to help anyone stay safe while on our roadways is just plain good, common sense,” said Karen Dussinger, regional PennDOT spokeswoman. 

The mandate, by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, applies day or night — and the only main exception is for police in potentially adversarial or confrontational roles. That irks some firefighters who say they should also be given an exemption for cases of vehicle fires when the vests would melt to their gear. 

Anyone with concerns or suggestions about the law has until July 31 to contact the U.S. Department of Transportation by regular mail, e-mail or fax. 

Many local emergency responders have already purchased the vests, which start at about $30 each. 

The Pennsylvania State Police is in the process of purchasing vests for the patrol force, said Trooper Rich Brannigan, of the state police Bureau of Research and Development. 

Although troopers on most traffic stops would be exempt, troopers and local police would have to wear them while performing tasks such as directing traffic and investigating crashes. 

“We want to get high-visibility vests for all our patrol members. Everything is about safety. We care about keeping our members safe,” Brannigan said. 

Dussinger summarized the new law by saying, “The requirements are in effect for workers any time they are exposed to vehicular or construction traffic within the right-of-way of federal-aid roadways. Because many roadways within Pennsylvania are federal-aid roadways, the regulation effectively requires all entities performing road work in Pennsylvania to comply with the new standards.”

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