Best Practices for Choosing High-Visibility Workwear

Staying safe on an active construction site requires more than just picking up a neon safety vest and getting down to business. With an estimated 1 in 5 fatalities resulting from struck-by injuries, construction workers need high-visibility safety gear from head-to-toe, so the backhoe operator clearly sees everyone around him before he swings.

Safety Regulations for Employers

In 2023, the construction industry had 1,075 fatalities, more than any other industry sector, illustrating the ongoing need for on-the-job safety measures. Under OSHA’s general duty clause, construction business owners are required to provide a workplace free from known hazards that could cause serious injury or death.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule in December 2024 that requires properly fitted PPE and high-visibility safety workwear for any construction worker who needs it, especially for women and physically smaller or larger workers.

Conduct a Hazard Assessment

Every job site is different, so a one-size-fits-all approach to construction PPE and high-visibility workwear will not keep workers safe. Before selecting high-visibility workwear, consider the potential hazards, the kind of work being done, and the working conditions.

Being seen on a busy job site is critical in staying safe and avoiding accidental injury. Whenever possible, walk the job site with a safety professional to identify potential threats to worker safety and visibility. Watch for dim or inadequate lighting, large machinery or equipment, moving vehicles, and stacks of materials or supplies that could obstruct vision. Also, please take note of any other obstacles that may make it harder to see or communicate with workers.

If safety gear or PPE is uncomfortable, restricts movement, or gets in the way of doing the job, it won’t be worn consistently. And if it’s not worn, it can’t possibly keep workers safe. So, consider the tasks each worker will perform and understand how any required safety gear may affect their ability to do the job. Avoid high-visibility workwear that is overly heavy, bulky, rough or restrictive. Instead, look for gear with lightweight and breathable fabrics and accordion-stretch or expanding seams at critical flex-points, such as knees, elbows, shoulders and finger joints.

Finally, consider how environmental conditions on the job site might affect worker safety. If temperatures are sunny and hot, workers may need moisture-wicking high-visibility gear with built-in UV protection. In freezing conditions, layered insulated hi-vis clothing helps workers adapt as conditions change. And when the job doesn’t stop for rain, sleet, or snow, high-visibility rainwear is key to staying dry and focused.

5 Best Practices For Choosing High-Visibility Workwear

Once job conditions have been assessed, safety managers and site superintendents must select high-visibility workwear to keep workers seen and safe. The following are five best practices for choosing high-visibility construction workwear.

Construction business owners and safety managers must decide which safety standards for high-visibility workwear apply to their job sites. This requires a thorough understanding of standards and classifications maintained by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA).

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 is the American national standard for high-visibility safety apparel. It sets requirements for color, retroreflection, and material configuration and categorizes high-visibility apparel into three types and four classes.

Apparel labeled as ANSI Type O is for off-road workers who are at risk of struck-by hazards but aren’t exposed to traffic on public roadways. ANSI Type R apparel is required for workers who are exposed to roadway traffic. While less common on construction sites, there is also ANSI Type P for public safety workers, such as law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency responders.

High-visibility safety apparel also receives a second rating for the ANSI Class. Each garment must meet requirements for the quantity of reflective materials and tape. For example, ANSI Class 1 has the lowest amount of brightly-colored high-visibility material and reflective tape. Most safety vests worn on construction sites meet ANSI Class 2 standards with more high-visibility material and reflective tape. ANSI Class 3 has the highest amount of high-visibility retroreflective material and tape.

Garments labeled ANSI Class E, such as overalls or pants, are considered supplemental and do not offer sufficient protection when worn alone. However, pairing an ANSI Class E garment, such as high-visibility work pants, with a Class 2 garment, like a high-visibility sweatshirt, elevates the entire outfit to Class 3 safety standards.

Some job sites require high-visibility apparel that meets the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards. The most noticeable difference between CSA and ANSI/ISEA standards is that garments must have reflective tape in an X shape across the back to meet CSA standards. This added reflectivity is intended to show that a worker is facing away and may not be able to react timely to an approaching hazard.

High-visibility lime is the preferred safety color for many construction sites, but it’s best to check with local authorities to make sure the municipal or state governments don’t issue more specific requirements with jurisdiction over the job site. Some states require high-visibility orange clothing for construction workers at the roadside, while high-visibility lime is acceptable for commercial or residential construction site workers.

Barring any local rules about high-visibility colors, some construction companies find that outfitting newer employees and visitors in a different high-visibility color than the standard on the job site reduces the likelihood of accidents. Essentially, more experienced employees on the site take note of the difference in color and offer extra guidance for following safety guidelines on the job site.

Getting a proper fit in high-visibility workwear isn’t just about comfort. Wearing gear that fits properly can save lives and protect construction workers from serious injury on the job.

Gear that is too large can snag on equipment and pull workers into or under moving parts or machinery. Safety workwear that is too small can restrict range of motion and impede circulation, slowing down reaction times. Gear that is uncomfortable or gets in the way won’t be worn at all, so those unprotected workers will be in greater danger on the job.

Construction business owners and safety managers must seek manufacturers, distributors or retailers of high-visibility gear that fit a wide range of body types and sizes, including clothing, shoes and gloves designed and sized for women instead of simply sizing down gear made for men.

When the weather turns nasty, choose high-visibility workwear with weather protection built into the garment rather than adding bulk and restricting movement by stacking up sweatshirts and jackets under a mesh safety vest.

Look for insulated work jackets that meet ANSI/ISEA or CSA standards in cold weather. If work continues on a job site in rainy or snowy conditions, look for high-visibility rain jackets with a removable inner insulated layer to offer protection across a wider range of temperatures and weather conditions.

For construction business owners outfitting their teams or for individual workers buying their own gear to comply with safety rules on the job, getting a good deal on high-visibility workwear is important. It’s tempting to choose gear with the lowest price, but that may end up costing more in the long run.

Instead of chasing bargain-priced safety gear, invest in high-visibility workwear with extra durability features that help it last longer than cheap gear that wears out and needs to be replaced more often.

Look for high-visibility workwear designed specifically for the job with abrasion-resistant fabrics that won’t fall apart from constant brushing against materials and equipment. Get gear with reinforced patches at the heels, knees and elbows to avoid unraveling or fraying seams. Finally, look for high-visibility workwear with bonded reflective tape instead of sewn-on tape. Bonded tape is more flexible and comfortable on the garment and more durable with frequent laundering.

Finally, ask about repair and warranty services. Some manufacturers will repair accidental damage or replace components like buttons and zippers to extend the life of their high-visibility workwear products, giving construction workers longer-lasting protection and better value over time.

Stay Seen, Stay Safe

Working in construction is hard enough. Add heavy equipment, fast-moving traffic, or piles of supplies that block visibility, and the risk of serious accidents or injuries only increases. Construction workers need durable and comfortable high-visibility workwear appropriate for conditions on the job site so they can stay seen and stay safe while getting the job done.