Incident Command Vests: What Do the Colors Mean?

Incident Command Vests: What Do the Colors Mean?

Quick Answer

Incident Command (IC) vest colors provide fast visual identification of roles during emergencies. There isn’t a single, universal U.S. standard: most agencies, hospitals, campuses, and companies follow the color scheme specified in their own ICS/HICS plan. That said, widely used kits tend to reuse a small, consistent palette (green, red, yellow, blue, orange, gray/white) so people can find the right leader quickly.

Are Vest Colors Standardized?

Partly—by program, not by law. NIMS/ICS defines the organization and roles, while color choices are typically set locally. Teams often adopt a known schema to reduce confusion across agencies and mutual-aid partners.

Two Common Color Schemas (Examples)

A) ICS-Inspired (Public Safety)

  • Incident Commander: Green
  • Command Staff: Red (Safety, PIO, Liaison)
  • Operations: Orange
  • Planning: Blue
  • Logistics: Yellow
  • Finance/Admin: Grey
  • Intelligence/Investigations: Brown

B) Hospital ICS (HICS) – Typical

  • Command: White (Incident Commander & Command Staff)
  • Operations: Red
  • Planning: Blue
  • Logistics: Yellow
  • Finance/Admin: Green

Note: In some programs, the Incident Commander is Green (public safety kits), while in HICS the Command group is often White. Always align with your plan.

Hi-Vis vs. Identification Colors

Commercial IC vests come in many colors, including ANSI hi-vis yellow-green and orange-red for roadway work. Indoors (EOC, hospitals, campuses), non-ANSI colors (blue, green, purple, white, grey, etc.) are common for role identification. Choose ANSI-rated vests for traffic exposure; use ID colors for command posts where visibility requirements don’t apply.

Building a Color Plan for Your Team

  1. Pick and publish a schema (e.g., ICS-style or HICS) and use it site-wide.
  2. Add titles on front/back panels (e.g., Operations Section Chief, Public Information Officer).
  3. Decide where ANSI is required (roadway) vs. ID-only (EOC/hospital) and buy accordingly.
  4. Standardize a core kit (IC + Command Staff + the four Section Chiefs). Keep spares for Branch/Unit leads.
  5. Train and drill so color ↔ role becomes automatic across mutual-aid partners.

Quick Reference: Color → Typical Role

General cross-walk; your ICS/HICS plan governs.

  • Green: Incident Commander (public safety kits); Finance/Admin (HICS)
  • White: Command (HICS), sometimes Command Staff in campus/LE programs
  • Red: Command Staff or Operations (varies by schema)
  • Yellow: Logistics
  • Blue: Planning
  • Orange: Operations (public safety kits); sometimes used for field safety/traffic
  • Grey: Finance/Admin (public safety kits)
  • Brown: Intelligence/Investigations (public safety kits)
  • Purple/Pink: Special teams, events, campus roles (non-ANSI ID)

Features That Matter on IC Vests

  • Title panels / card windows so you can swap roles without issuing new vests.
  • Breakaway points (shoulders/sides) for entanglement safety.
  • Radio mic tabs, pen pockets, map/document pouches for field command.
  • ANSI tape where roadway exposure exists; otherwise prioritize clear lettering and consistent colors.

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People Also Ask (FAQ)

Is there a single official U.S. color chart for ICS vests?

No. NIMS/ICS defines roles, not a national color mandate. Many organizations adopt a published schema to stay consistent.

Which colors should we pick if we’re starting fresh?

Adopt a recognized pattern (public-safety ICS style or HICS) and keep it consistent across sites and partners. Always include printed titles.

Do we need ANSI-rated vests for Incident Command?

Use ANSI hi-vis vests for roadway/traffic exposure. For EOCs, hospitals, and indoor command posts, non-ANSI identification colors are commonly used.

Why do some kits show “IC = Green” and others “IC = White”?

Color assignments differ by program. Many public-safety kits use Green for Incident Commander, while HICS often uses White for the Command group.

Can we customize vest titles (PIO, Staging, Triage, Safety)?

Yes—most vest systems support swappable inserts or stitched titles so you can expand beyond Section Chiefs to Branch/Unit roles and hospital positions.

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, Mick 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.