High-Visibility Clothing
Hi-vis clothing helps drivers and equipment operators see you sooner, in daylight and at night. It is required in highway work zones and on most sites with moving equipment.
- Construction
- General Industry
Photo: Class 2 vest, Class 3 jacket, and Class E pants on workers at night
ANSI/ISEA 107 classes
| Class | Where it’s used |
|---|---|
| Class 1 | Low-speed areas well away from traffic, such as parking lots (not for roadway work) |
| Class 2 | Roadway work near traffic, typically up to about 50 mph, and active construction sites |
| Class 3 | High-speed traffic, nighttime work, bad weather: more material and sleeves |
| Class E | Pants or shorts; Class 2 top + Class E bottom = Class 3 ensemble |
Workers on federal-aid highway right-of-ways must wear Class 2 or 3 garments. Your employer or the project may require more.
Garment types
- Type O (off-road): Class 1 garments for areas without public road traffic, like warehouses, parking lots and oil fields.
- Type R (roadway): Class 2 or 3 garments for workers exposed to traffic on public roads and on construction sites.
- Type P (public safety): Class 2 or 3 garments for police, fire and EMS, often with breakaway features and room for equipment belts.
How hi-vis works
- Fluorescent background material (yellow-green, orange-red or red) stands out in daylight and at dusk.
- Retroreflective tape bounces headlights back toward the driver at night.
- Tape that wraps around the body (and on sleeves and pants) shows your human shape and movement, which drivers recognize faster than a patch of color.
Choosing hi-vis
- The class required by the job, traffic speed and time of day
- A color that contrasts with the background (orange in green fields, yellow-green in urban areas and snow)
- Breakaway vests near moving machinery or equipment that could catch the vest
- FR or arc-rated hi-vis for welding, electrical or flash-fire hazards (ordinary polyester vests can melt)
- The right size, so it can be worn closed over your other layers
- Winter jackets and rain gear that are themselves hi-vis, so they don’t cover your vest
Keep it visible
- Wear it zipped or fastened, as the outer layer. Don’t cover it with a jacket.
- Choose fluorescent yellow-green or orange-red to contrast with the background.
- Replace it when faded, dirty, torn, or when the reflective tape is cracked or peeling.
- Use FR-rated hi-vis if you also have arc flash or flash-fire hazards.
- Wash it as the label says. Too much washing and bleach fade the fluorescent color and damage the tape. Check the label for a maximum number of washes.
- Keep hard hats bright and add reflective stickers or lights where allowed for night work.
Warning: Hi-vis makes you easier to see. It does not make you invisible to danger. Still stay out of blind spots and make eye contact with operators. See Backing & Spotters.
Video: how hi-vis looks to a driver at day and at night
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1926.201: Signaling (flaggers, references MUTCD)
- FHWA: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
- ANSI/ISEA 107: High-visibility safety apparel
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