High-visibility safety apparel (HVSA) keeps workers visible around vehicles, heavy equipment, and low-light job sites. For road crews, utility workers, airport ground teams, and first responders, hi-vis gear is not “nice to have” — it’s often required for survival.
This 2025 guide explains the three main visibility classes defined by ANSI/ISEA 107-2020, how they relate to OSHA requirements, and how to choose the correct class (Class 1, 2, or 3 — plus Class E pants) for your job site.
1. What Is High-Visibility Safety Apparel?
High-visibility safety apparel is clothing designed to make a worker “stand out” to vehicle operators, equipment operators, and other workers, both in daylight and at night. High-visibility garments typically include:
- Fluorescent background material (lime/yellow or orange/red) for daytime contrast
- Retroreflective tape that bounces light from headlights back to the driver at night
- Mandatory placement and coverage zones so the human body is clearly outlined from all sides
The performance and layout of these materials are defined by the ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 standard — which is the current U.S. standard for high-visibility clothing used in construction, traffic control, utility work, emergency response, and industrial environments.
Shop high-visibility gear here:
👉 Hi-Vis Safety Vests
👉 Traffic Safety Gear
2. OSHA vs. ANSI: Who Decides What You Need?
It helps to understand that OSHA and ANSI play different roles but work together:
- ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 sets the technical standard: how bright, how reflective, where tape goes, what counts as Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3.
- OSHA enforces the employer’s responsibility to protect workers from hazards, including low visibility and struck-by hazards near traffic or heavy equipment. OSHA cites employers if they fail to provide adequate protection (for example under 29 CFR 1910.132 for PPE and 1910.269 for electric power generation, transmission, and distribution work).
In practice: Your crew doesn’t just “wear bright gear.” You must select gear meeting the correct ANSI class for the level of exposure and traffic speed they’re working around — or you risk both citations and serious injury.
For OSHA’s guidance on PPE: OSHA Personal Protective Equipment
3. How Hi-Vis Works: Fluorescence and Retroreflection
High-visibility PPE is effective for two different reasons:
Fluorescent Background (Daytime Visibility)
- Lime/Yellow: The most common color in roadway and construction work. High contrast against most backgrounds.
- Orange/Red: Often used in areas with a lot of green/yellow background (vegetation), in snow operations, or by emergency crews and flaggers.
Retroreflective Tape (Nighttime / Low Light Visibility)
- Retroreflective tape is engineered to reflect light (like vehicle headlights) directly back toward the source.
- The tape is usually arranged in horizontal bands around the torso and vertical/diagonal bands over the shoulders and sleeves so drivers recognize a human outline, not just a “glowing dot.”
If the fluorescent color is faded or dull, daytime visibility drops. If the reflective tape is cracked, dirty, or peeling, nighttime visibility drops. Both matter.
4. The Three Main ANSI Classes (Plus Class E)
ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 separates high-visibility garments into classes based on how much high-visibility material and reflective material the garment provides — and therefore how visible the worker is, and at what distance and speed.
ANSI Class 1 — Low-Speed / Low-Risk Environments
Who typically wears Class 1?
- Warehouse staff and forklift spotters in controlled facilities
- Parking lot attendants
- Delivery personnel working briefly near slow-moving vehicles (under about 25 mph)
Why Class 1?
Class 1 garments provide basic visibility where traffic is minimal and slow, and the worker has full separation from active lanes or high-speed equipment. This class has the least required amount of high-visibility background fabric and reflective tape.
Common Class 1 garments include:
- Hi-vis vests with reflective bands
- Minimal reflective harness-style garments
- Bright, reflective work shirts in controlled areas
Shop entry-level visibility solutions:
👉 Hi-Vis Safety Vests Collection
ANSI Class 2 — Moderate Traffic / Roadside Work / 25–50 mph Zones
Who typically wears Class 2?
- Road construction and maintenance crews
- Utility workers and survey crews along the roadside
- Airport ground crews
- Event/security staff working in active vehicle areas
Why Class 2?
Class 2 offers increased coverage of both fluorescent background and retroreflective tape, making a worker more visible from greater distances and from more angles. It’s intended for areas where vehicles may be moving in the 25–50 mph range, and where backgrounds are visually “busy.”
Typical Class 2 garments include:
- Safety vests with wider and more continuous reflective striping
- Short-sleeve hi-vis shirts with reflective banding
- Weather-resistant vests designed for roadside visibility
Why it matters:
At 40 mph, a driver’s stopping distance is dramatically longer than at 10 mph. Workers must stand out before drivers are close. Class 2 helps make that possible.
Browse gear commonly used by utility and construction crews:
👉 ANSI Class 2 Vests & Apparel
ANSI Class 3 — High-Speed / High-Risk / Limited Lighting
Who typically wears Class 3?
- Highway and freeway construction crews
- Tow truck operators and roadside emergency responders
- Flaggers in high-speed traffic zones
- Airport runway personnel
- Night shift lane closure crews
Why Class 3?
Class 3 garments provide the highest level of visibility in the ANSI standard, with significantly more fluorescent background material and more retroreflective coverage. Class 3 garments usually include sleeves or full-body coverage so that the entire human form is identifiable at a distance, day or night, rain or fog.
Typical Class 3 garments include:
- Long-sleeve hi-vis jackets with reflective striping on torso and arms
- Full-sleeve vests and rain suits
- Coveralls with 360° reflective banding
Class 3 is generally recommended (and often expected by agencies) in areas with vehicle speeds above 50 mph and/or low visibility environments such as nighttime road work, severe weather, and emergency shoulder work.
Shop high-visibility gear for traffic and roadway operations:
👉 Traffic Safety Apparel & Class 3 Options
ANSI Class E — High-Visibility Pants and Bibs (Upgrade to Class 3)
Class E is a special designation for high-visibility pants, shorts, or bib overalls. Class E garments alone are not considered Class 1, 2, or 3. But when you combine Class E lower-body garments with a Class 2 or Class 3 upper-body garment, the overall ensemble is considered Class 3.
In plain English: High-visibility pants or bibs + a Class 2 vest = Class 3 visibility.
This is especially common for highway work, guardrail crews, crash response teams, and night operations in rain or low light.
5. Which Class Do You Need?
| Work Environment | Typical Traffic Speed / Hazard Level | Minimum Recommended Class |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor warehouse, parking lot, controlled yard | Under ~25 mph, good lighting | Class 1 |
| Road maintenance, utility work, survey crews near traffic lanes | ~25–50 mph, complex background | Class 2 |
| Highway/freeway lane closures, towing, emergency response, night work | 50+ mph, low light, fast approach speed | Class 3 (or Class 2 + Class E pants) |
Reminder: If you add Class E pants or bibs to a Class 2 top, you effectively achieve Class 3 visibility. That combination is extremely common in highway, DOT, CHP/tow, and utility emergency response work.
6. Care, Maintenance, and Replacement
High-visibility apparel does not last forever. It should be inspected and replaced on a documented schedule, just like other PPE.
Inspection checklist:
- Is the fluorescent background material badly faded, stained, or dirty?
- Is the retroreflective tape peeling, cracked, or missing sections?
- Are there rips or holes that reduce total visible area?
- Has the garment been through repeated industrial wash cycles (25+ washes) that dulled the color?
Care tips:
- Wash in cold or warm water using mild detergent.
- Avoid bleach and fabric softeners — they degrade reflectivity.
- Hang dry or tumble on low to preserve reflective tape.
- Retire gear early if reflectivity is visibly compromised.
Keep backup vests, jackets, and rainwear in your site PPE stock so workers aren’t forced to wear faded, non-compliant gear on high-risk shifts:
👉 PPE and Safety Gear Inventory
7. Common Hi-Vis Mistakes That Put Workers at Risk
- Wearing non-ANSI “bright” gear: Generic reflective fashion or hobby vests might not meet required reflective tape placement or surface area.
- Hiding the vest under a jacket: If the reflective tape is covered, it’s not doing its job. Workers often put on a dark hoodie or raincoat over a Class 2 vest and accidentally drop below compliance.
- Using old, faded gear: Sun-bleached or oil-stained hi-vis fabric loses contrast and stops “popping” against the background. Drivers take longer to notice faded gear.
- No nighttime upgrade: Crews that are fine in Class 2 at 2:00 PM may actually need Class 3 at 2:00 AM. Lighting conditions matter.
- No training: Workers often are never told why they’re required to upgrade from Class 1 to Class 2 or 3. If they don’t understand the “why,” compliance drops.
8. Employer Responsibilities
Under OSHA’s PPE rules (29 CFR 1910.132), employers must:
- Assess visibility hazards — traffic speed, lighting, background complexity, weather, and equipment movement.
- Provide the correct class of high-visibility PPE (and pay for it when it’s required for compliance).
- Train workers to wear, inspect, and maintain their hi-vis apparel.
- Enforce usage — it doesn’t help if the vest is in the truck instead of on the worker.
For OSHA guidance on PPE responsibilities, see: OSHA PPE Overview
People Also Ask (FAQ)
1. What’s the difference between Class 2 and Class 3 safety vests?
Class 2 vests are designed for moderate-speed traffic (about 25–50 mph) and offer more reflective and fluorescent coverage than Class 1. Class 3 garments offer the highest visibility, typically include sleeves or full-body coverage, and are intended for high-speed roads (50+ mph), nighttime work, or emergency response.
2. Is ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 required by OSHA?
OSHA requires employers to protect workers from struck-by hazards and reference industry consensus standards. Many agencies and job sites treat ANSI/ISEA 107 compliance as mandatory for roadway and utility work. It’s the recognized standard for hi-vis apparel in the U.S.
3. How often should I replace a hi-vis vest?
Replace it immediately if reflective tape is peeling, fabric is torn, or the color is badly faded. In heavy field use, that can mean every 6–12 months. Some vests lose compliance after roughly 25 wash cycles.
4. Can I wear dark rain gear over my Class 2 vest?
If the rain gear covers your reflective areas, you’re no longer visible. For night or rain work, use an ANSI-rated high-visibility rain jacket that already meets Class 2 or Class 3.
5. Do Class E pants really upgrade a Class 2 vest to Class 3?
Yes. When Class E pants or bibs are worn with a Class 2 upper body garment, the combination is treated as Class 3 visibility. This is common on highway and nighttime lane-closure crews.
Author Bio
Mick Chan is a Safety Supplies industry professional with over 15 years of hands-on experience. He specializes in OSHA compliance, PPE regulations, and bulk safety product procurement for high-risk industries. Mick earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cal State LA in 2013 and has been advising companies across California ever since. Born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, he understands the safety needs of businesses in diverse urban and industrial environments. His work focuses on bridging safety compliance with practical product solutions for the modern workplace.