High Visibility Clothing: ANSI-Certified Reflective Safety Workwear

High visibility (hi-vis) clothing is safety workwear made from fluorescent background material and retroreflective tape designed to make workers conspicuous in both daylight and low-light conditions. It is required by OSHA and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for workers exposed to traffic and moving equipment — including road construction, flagging, utility work, survey crews, airport ground crews, and emergency responders. The standard governing hi-vis workwear in the United States is ANSI/ISEA 107, which defines performance classes, colors, and garment types.

ANSI Class 1 provides the minimum level of visibility and is intended for workers in low-risk environments where traffic is separated from the work area and speeds are under 25 mph — such as parking lot attendants or warehouse workers.

ANSI Class 2 is required for workers in higher-risk environments where traffic speeds range from 25–50 mph, where worker attention may be diverted, or where weather conditions reduce visibility. Common applications include road construction, railway workers, and utility crews.

ANSI Class 3 provides the highest level of visibility, required where workers are exposed to high-speed traffic (over 50 mph) or complex visual backgrounds. It requires full arm and leg coverage with retroreflective striping and is standard for highway construction workers, flaggers, and emergency responders. Class 3 garments also satisfy Class 2 requirements.

ANSI/ISEA 107 classifies hi-vis garments by intended use in addition to visibility class:

Type R (Roadway) — For workers exposed to traffic on public roads. This is the most common type and covers the majority of construction, highway, and utility workers. Type R garments must use fluorescent yellow-green or fluorescent orange-red background material.

Type O (Off-Road) — For workers not exposed to public road traffic, such as warehouse, mining, or industrial environments. Type O garments may use a broader range of background colors.

Type P (Public Safety) — Designed specifically for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical personnel who need high visibility but also require freedom of movement and may need the garment to be quickly removable.

Both colors are ANSI-approved for Type R high visibility clothing, but they perform differently in different environments. Fluorescent yellow-green (often called "lime" or "ANSI yellow") provides the highest daytime visibility and is best in low-contrast environments such as green vegetation, concrete, or asphalt — making it the most common choice for road construction and utility workers. Fluorescent orange-red provides better contrast in environments with natural foliage, dirt, and earthtones — making it common for emergency responders, survey crews, and hunting-adjacent work settings. Both colors are equally valid under ANSI/ISEA 107; the right choice depends on the work environment and employer or agency requirements.

X Back hi-vis garments feature retroreflective tape configured in an "X" pattern across the back of the garment, rather than the standard horizontal band configuration. The X Back pattern provides 360-degree visibility and ensures that reflective tape remains visible at all angles — including when the worker is bent over, crouched, or facing away from traffic. X Back designs are common for workers who frequently change position or work with their backs to traffic, such as road pavers, utility excavation crews, and flaggers. Safety Smart Gear carries X Back vests, X Back jackets, and X Back coveralls.

Yes. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.201 requires that flaggers wear high visibility apparel meeting ANSI/ISEA 107 or equivalent performance on public roads and job sites with traffic exposure. The FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) also mandates ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or Class 3 hi-vis apparel for all workers in the right-of-way on federally funded road projects. Additionally, OSHA's general duty clause (Section 5(a)(1)) requires employers to protect workers from recognized hazards — including struck-by hazards from vehicles — which effectively requires hi-vis apparel in any work environment with moving traffic or equipment. Many state DOTs and project specifications impose their own requirements above the federal minimum.

Enhanced Visibility (also called "non-ANSI" or "non-certified" hi-vis) garments use high-visibility colors and reflective elements but do not meet the full ANSI/ISEA 107 certification requirements for background material area, retroreflective tape placement, or tape quantity. These garments are suitable for work environments where some visibility improvement is desired but ANSI certification is not mandated — such as warehouse operations, manufacturing floors, landscaping, or general industrial work not adjacent to public road traffic. They should never be used as a substitute for certified ANSI Class 2 or Class 3 apparel where those classes are required by regulation or employer safety program.

Safety Smart Gear stocks a comprehensive lineup of leading high visibility workwear brands, including OccuNomix, Kishigo, Portwest, Utility Pro, ML Kishigo, Ergodyne GloWear, Pyramex, Big Bill, and National Safety Apparel (NSA). Our hi-vis inventory covers safety vests, shirts, T-shirts, jackets, parkas, sweatshirts, hoodies, coveralls, bibs, pants, rain gear, and accessories — in both ANSI Class 2 and Class 3, Type R and Type O, including X Back styles, women's cuts, and kids' hi-vis.

Yes. Safety Smart Gear offers bulk and volume pricing for contractors, municipalities, utilities, and other organizations outfitting crews with high visibility workwear. You can request a bulk quote directly on our website. We also offer custom logo printing on select hi-vis garments through our printing program. Contact us at (508) 248-3141 or through our contact page for fleet or safety program pricing.

Yes. Safety Smart Gear carries a selection of hi-vis clothing made in the USA, including garments from brands that manufacture domestically to meet Buy American Act, Berry Amendment, and other federal procurement requirements. If your project or agency requires domestic-manufactured safety apparel, contact us at (508) 248-3141 and we can help identify the right products for your compliance needs.