Workers near traffic or moving equipment need to remain recognizable against their surroundings. High-visibility workwear can help drivers and equipment operators notice them sooner when lighting or complex backgrounds make workers harder to see.
Color matters, but workplace hazards, garment classification, fit, and applicable requirements should guide apparel selection.
How to Choose High-Visibility Workwear
Begin with the hazards employees face, not a preferred color or garment style. Evaluate where employees work, what vehicles or equipment operate nearby, and how the environment may affect worker recognition.
1: Assess the Work Environment
Look at the backgrounds workers encounter throughout the shift. Machinery, stored materials, traffic-control devices, buildings, and natural surroundings may all affect contrast. A color that stands out in one area may be less noticeable in another.
When possible, review the apparel in the actual work environment during daylight, at night, and under the artificial lighting employees encounter.
2: Determine the Appropriate Type and Performance Class
ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 classifies high-visibility safety apparel by type and performance class. Type reflects the expected work setting:
- Type O: Off-road environments where workers face hazards from moving vehicles or equipment but are not exposed to roadway traffic.
- Type R: Roadway environments where workers are exposed to traffic.
- Type P: Public-safety environments for emergency responders and law-enforcement personnel.
Performance class indicates the amount of visible material and body coverage the garment provides:
- Class 1: Provides the minimum required amount of visible material and applies only to Type O apparel.
- Class 2: Provides more visible material and coverage than Class 1.
- Class 3: Provides the greatest visible-material coverage and helps make the wearer recognizable as a person.
Select the appropriate type and class based on the workplace hazard assessment and any requirements that apply to the work.
3: Confirm the Garment’s Features
The following chart can help safety managers compare high-visibility workwear without relying on color alone.
| Selection factor | What to check | Why it matters |
| Environmental contrast | Backgrounds, machinery, signs, and changing conditions | Helps identify a distinguishable approved color |
| Apparel type and class | ANSI/ISEA type and performance-class markings | Connects the garment to its intended setting and level of coverage |
| Visible materials | Fluorescent background and retroreflective material | Supports recognition under different lighting conditions |
| Labeling | Standard edition, type, class, and care information | Helps verify the finished garment’s classification |
| Fit and coverage | Sizing, closure, and unobstructed visible material | Poor fit or covered material may reduce visibility |
Fluorescent background material supports daytime visibility. Retroreflective material returns light toward its source, which can help drivers see workers when headlights illuminate the garment.
Employers should also consider compatibility with other required protective clothing. Employees exposed to flash-fire or electric-arc hazards may need flame-resistant work clothes that meet applicable high-visibility requirements. Confirm that the complete clothing system addresses every identified hazard.
High-Visibility vs. Enhanced-Visibility Apparel
High-visibility safety apparel meets ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 requirements for materials, design, visible-material coverage, classification, and labeling. When selecting ahigh-vis safety vest, check the label for the applicable standard, type, and performance class.
Enhanced-visibility shirts and pants may use bright colors, reflective accents, or contrasting materials to make workers easier to see. Unlike high-visibility safety apparel, they are not classified as ANSI/ISEA 107-compliant and should not be used when the job requires compliant high-visibility clothing.
Maintaining High-Visibility Workwear
Fading, dirt, and damage can reduce a garment’s effectiveness, so employers need clear inspection and replacement procedures. Employees should report:
- Faded fluorescent material
- Damaged or missing reflective material
- Tears that affect coverage or fit
- Permanent stains or contamination
- Closures that no longer hold the garment in place
Follow the manufacturer’s washing and drying instructions. Improper laundering can damage fluorescent and reflective materials. A work uniform rental program can help employers maintain consistent laundering, inspections, and replacement procedures across the workforce.
Manage Your High-Visibility Workwear With Prudential Overall Supply
Prudential Overall Supply helps businesses outfit employees with professional work uniforms for demanding environments. Our team can help you compare high-visibility garment options—including high-visibility safety vests, shirts, and pants—establish a dependable service schedule, and provide professional laundering. We also monitor garment condition and replace worn items through your uniform program.
Partner with Prudential Overall Supply for protective work apparel and uniforms backed by more than 90 years of service experience.