Hi Vis Safety Vests

• Class 2 Safety Vests – Designed for workers exposed to traffic over 25 mph or complex backgrounds. These vests use hi-vis colors like yellow or orange with 2" reflective tape, providing 360° visibility. Ideal for road crews, surveyors, and utility workers.
• Class 3 Safety Vests – Offer the highest visibility, with additional reflective coverage and sleeves for a full-body outline. Required for jobs near high-speed traffic or in low-light conditions, such as highway maintenance, tow truck operators, or emergency responders.
• Non-ANSI Safety Vests – Used in low-risk environments like warehouses, event staffing, or parking control. These vests are not ANSI certified but still enhance visibility. Available in a variety of colors like black, pink, and blue, they offer functional style where compliance isn't required.

To clean your hi-vis safety vest, always check the care label first. Most high-visibility vests can be machine washed in cold water on a gentle cycle using mild detergent. Avoid bleach or fabric softeners, as they can damage the reflective tape. Air dry your vest to maintain ANSI compliance and preserve long-lasting visibility and durability. For more details, read our blog posts on Can I Wash My Safety Vest? and How to Clean Reflective Clothing.

OSHA requires that workers exposed to vehicular traffic, flagging operations, highway work zones, or excavation near public roads wear high-visibility or reflectorized warning garments (29 CFR 1926.201) — typically vests in fluorescent colors with retro-reflective tape. For flaggers, OSHA specifies red or orange warning apparel and reflectorized material for night work. Under the General Duty Clause, employers must ensure worker visibility in traffic zones, which effectively means using vests that meet the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard. See OSHA's full guidance here: OSHA Standard Interpretation (Mar 11, 2002).

To add your logo to a hi-vis safety vest, you can request custom screen printing through our in-house customization services at KwikSafety. We offer fast, professional logo placement on a wide range of ANSI-compliant safety apparel, helping your team stay safe and branded on the job. To get started, fill out our Customization Request Form and check out our Customization Gallery to see past examples of our work!
Note: Embroidery is not available for safety vests.

The ANSI/ISEA 107 standard defines performance requirements for high-visibility safety apparel. It categorizes garments into Type O (off-road), Type R (roadway), and Type P (public safety) and further classifies them as Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 based on the amount of background fabric and reflective material. Class 3 offers the highest visibility and is required in the most hazardous conditions.

Black safety vests are generally not ANSI compliant and therefore do not meet OSHA requirements for high-visibility apparel in traffic or construction zones. However, they can be worn in low-risk environments where ANSI compliance is not mandated—such as warehouse, parking, or event staff roles. Always check your jobsite's PPE requirements before use.

A safety vest improves worker visibility in hazardous environments. The use of hi-vis fabric and reflective tape allows operators of machinery and vehicles to easily spot personnel, helping prevent accidents. Safety vests are essential PPE for construction crews, road workers, emergency responders, and warehouse teams.