Safety Vest Colors Explained

When looking for a safety vest, you're going to notice that you've got some color options. After you've determined the vest type, the vest class, and of course, your size, you get to pick a color. But, unfortunately, there are wrong answers to the question, which color is right for me?

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When working in an official capacity on a roadway, construction site, or any work overseen by OSHA, you are required to wear an ANSI-approved vest. There are only three ANSI-approved colors for safety vests, yellow-green, orange-red, and red.

But, you can buy and use a non-ANSI vest in work conditions that OSHA doesn't require an approved vest. Non-ANSI vests can come in any color, but commonly you'll see colors like blue and green. And not all yellow, orange, and red vests are ANSI approved. We'll get into all of that later.

ANSI - Yellow Safety Vests 

The first of the three ANSI-approved safety colors is yellow-green, which is often referred to as "Safety Yellow" or just "Yellow."

Yellow safety vests are also commonly used in recreational activities, such as biking or hiking. When worn in these settings, they can help keep the wearer visible to others, preventing accidents or collisions. Additionally, safety yellow is popular in other industries, such as parking attendants, crossing guards, emergency services, and more.

Again, yellow is one of the most common color options for safety vests, and you can easily find a yellow vest in any class and type combination.

Orange Safety Vests 

The second of the three ANSI-approved safety colors is orange-red, often called "Safety Orange" or just "Orange."

The road construction industry is a big fan of "Safety Orange." You see it on the road signs, the cones, the waterfilled barriers, traffic barrels, and even the machinery is often painted orange. Safety vests are no exception. You'll notice a lot of orange vests amongst highway and roadway crews.

Additionally, orange safety vests are commonly worn by surveyors and airport personnel. They are designed to provide maximum visibility and contrast with workers' surroundings, even in low light or foggy conditions.

Outside of work zones uses, orange safety vests are also commonly used by hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts. Wearing an orange vest can help prevent accidental shootings by making the wearer more visible to others in the area.

Red Safety Vests

The third and final ANSI-approved safety vest color is red, sometimes called "Safety Red."

Red safety vests are used to indicate workers and responders who are in potentially hazardous situations, such as firefighters or emergency responders.

Red safety vests are commonly worn by firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and other emergency responders. They are designed to provide maximum visibility while also indicating a worker's role and level of authority. The bright red color of the vest can be easily recognized, even in smoke or other hazardous conditions, which helps workers and visitors identify the person responsible for ensuring their safety.

In addition to their use in emergency response, red safety vests are also sometimes used in industries such as manufacturing or construction. The bright red color of the vest can be used to indicate workers who are working with or near potentially hazardous materials, where safety is of the utmost importance.

Green Safety Vests

You don't often see a lot of vests in "safety green," not to be confused with "safety yellow," which is a neon yellow that can sometimes be confused with a light green. Actual green vests are a darker shade of green, and they are not ANSI approved. These vests can be used in situations where an ANSI-approved vest is not required, but additional safety and visibility are encouraged.

Green safety vests are sometimes used by safety personnel, such as first aid providers, safety officers, and security guards.

Green safety vests are popular in situations where different groups of people need to be easily and quickly identified. In a large-scale emergency response situation, specific response teams will wear a green vest, while others wear blue, and so forth

In addition to their use in the workplace, green safety vests are also commonly used in outdoor activities, such as hiking. Wearing a green vest can indicate that a person is an outdoors guide, park ranger, or other types of outdoor safety personnel.

Blue Safety Vests

Similar to green safety vests, you aren't going to see these used in an official capacity. Blue safety vests are not approved by ANSI but can be used in a situation where an approved vest is not required.

Blue safety vests are sometimes worn by beach lifeguards and pool attendants and generally indicate an official position near water. In this capacity, the vest is not serving to create better visibility of the wearer to keep the wearer safe, but rather better visibility to allow individuals who need help to identify the vest wearer as a person of authority. The bright blue color of the vest can be easily recognized, even from a distance, which helps workers and visitors identify the person responsible for ensuring their safety.

In addition to their use in water-related industries, blue safety vests are also sometimes used in auxiliary positions in industries such as aerospace or aviation. The bright blue color of the vest can be used to indicate workers who are working with or near non-moving aircraft.

Again, similar to green vests, blue vests are used as an identification option when many different color vests are being used to differentiate response teams. Such as in a mass emergency response situation.

What makes a vest ANSI-approved?

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established specific requirements for safety vests to ensure they provide the necessary level of protection and visibility. These requirements are outlined in the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard , which sets guidelines for high-visibility safety apparel.

As previously mentioned, the vest material needs to be a bright, fluorescent color. Specifically yellow-green (safety yellow), orange-red (safety orange), or red. The color must be visible in daylight and low-light conditions.

But that's not all; the material that the vest is made out of needs to meet some photometric minimums. Commonly vests are made of polyester, mesh, modacrylic, or similar materials. And the design of the vest need to meet minimum specification on how much high visibility material is used and how many reflective strips are used.

It's important to note that the ANSI requirements for safety vests vary depending on the level of risk in the work environment. For example, Class 1 vests are designed for low-risk environments, while Class 3 vests are designed for high-risk environments. Employers should evaluate the level of risk in their work environment and provide appropriate safety vests to their employees.

What are the OSHA requirements?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific requirements for safety vests under their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards. In that standard, OSHA requires workers to wear the ANSI-approved vest we detailed earlier.

OSHA requires that employers assess their workplace hazards to determine if workers need to wear high-visibility safety vests and, if so, to provide the appropriate vest for the job. Road workers on active highways require class III safety vests, while workers on local streets may only require class II safety vests.

OSHA requires employers to assess what PPE is needed and to provide the appropriate PPE, including safety vests, to their workers at no cost to the employee. OSHA also requires that employees wear the PPE provided by their employer and maintain it in a clean and functional condition.

Additionally, OSHA requires that employers train their workers on the proper use, care, and maintenance of their PPE, including safety vests.

How Can PowerPak Help?

Here at PowerPak, our specialty is on ANSI-approved vests, specifically safety yellow and safety orange. We have a wide selection of safety vests in those two colors in both class II and class III.

Best yet, we offer in-house imprinting on our vest, with very quick turnaround times. Visit our website to order your vest, or reach out to learn more about our imprinting service.

If you are in need of safety vest as soon as possible, order from PowerPak. We keep a full inventory in stock, and most orders ship out, same day. Select areas will receive their order that day. Unbelievable, right? Try it for yourself, order now.

We see safety vests everywhere&#;not only on construction sites but also on motorcycle riders and paramedics.

Safety vests are as common as construction shirts on jobsites. But, do you know the strict guidelines safety vests need to meet to fit into construction compliance standards?

For instance, did you know many readily available safety vests don&#;t meet construction compliance guidelines? That&#;s either because of the retro-reflective band quality, placement, or fabric color choice. This could potentially put you and your crew at risk.

Today we&#;ll look at:

• ANSI/ISEA 107 standard for safety vests
• Recommended class of hi-vis safety vests appropriate for various construction scenarios
• Essential branding tips to ensure your brand is visible and safety compliant

What Are the Essential Features of a Compliant Safety Vest?

For a safety vest to be compliant to existing standards, it should include a fluorescent background fabric in the recommended colors and retro-reflective bands placed according to its performance class.

Additional safety compliance features may be necessary depending on site hazards, for example, fire resistant fabric treatments for environments with a high fire risk.

We&#;ll break down these specifications later.

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The American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear (ANSI/ISEA 107) defines, in detail, all safety compliance specifications for workwear.

Whereas, CAN/CSA Z96-02 and EN ISO are the equivalent safety standards in Canada and Europe, respectively.

Let&#;s briefly go over these compliance specifications for construction safety vests.

1- Background Color of the Safety Vest

ANSI/ISEA 107 recommends that you make the background or main fabric color for your safety vest one of these bright colors:

• Fluorescent yellow-green  
• Fluorescent orange-red
• Fluorescent red
• Bright yellow-green
• Bright orange

In these colors, you&#;re more visible and therefore safer on a construction site. This is especially important in worksites with moving vehicles and motorized equipment.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics census found that the transportation and construction sectors account for 47% of workplace injuries.

Of these, &#;struck by&#; injuries are the third most common type of injury accounting for almost 500 fatalities and about 10% of fatal occupational injuries annually.

Improving the visibility of workers on construction sites with compliant safety vests is key to achieving occupational safety and reducing the rate of these &#;struck by&#; injuries.

In the table below, we compare the different situations ideal for the recommended background colors.

Type of Background Material Description Ideal Situations Bright Material Eye catching green, yellow, orange, or red colors Daytime visibility in sites away from vehicles Fluorescent Material Yellow, red, or orange colors that absorb invisible UV light and reflect it as visible light Shaded areas with motorized equipment Retro-reflective Material Reflects light directly back to the light source Nighttime or low light visibility areas where artificial lights are used by vehicles or motorized equipment

2- Fit of the Safety Vest

Safety vests that don&#;t fit aren&#;t just uncomfortable, they can also cause safety hazards in the workplace. How so? By snagging on machinery or restricting the construction worker&#;s movement.

Below are the features of appropriately fitting safety vests:

• Not too snug, leaving sufficient room for movement and clothing underneath.
• No raw seams, edges, or tabs that can cause discomfort and undermine wearability.
• They should fit in a way that other garments or equipment, like tool belts or harnesses, don&#;t cover the retro-reflective strips.

Most safety vest manufacturers offer a variety of safety vest sizes, ranging from XS through to J (XXXXL) and 5XL. Sizing can vary across vendors, so it&#;s important to double check their size charts.

Here&#;s a table showing an example of how vest sizes correspond to chest measurements.

Chest Size in Inches Vest Size 36" to 38" XS 40" to 42" S 44" to 46" M 48" to 50" L 52" to 54" XL 56" to 58" 2X (XXL) 60" to 62" 3X (XXXL) 64" to 66" J (XXXXL)

Expert Tip: Measure across the fullest part of your chest, ensuring that the tape doesn&#;t dip.

For layering over light clothing such as a t-shirt, buy a vest that&#;s your exact chest measurement. However, add 2&#;3 inches to your chest measurement if you plan to layer your vest over heavy clothing, like jackets.

3- Design of the Retro-Reflective Strips

Correctly designed retro-reflective strips should have the following features:

• Have a strip at least 2 inches (50 mm) in width.
• Two strips that pass vertically at the front, running from the shoulders to the waist.
• A horizontal strip at the navel running all around the body.
• Class 3 safety vests require retro-reflective around both arms and legs.

The last point brings up a crucial question about the performance classes for safety vests.

What Are the Performance Classes of Safety Vests?

Safety vest performance classes refer to the various categories of visibility requirements for safety vests based on the level of hazard workers are exposed to.

In the table below, we summarize the three main performance classes, their characteristics, and use cases.

ANSI Performance Classification Length of Retro-Reflective Tape Placement of Retro-Reflective Tape Areas Applicable Class 1

• 2-inch wide tape and 6.46 feet in length
• 1 &#;-inch wide tape and 9.38 feet in length

• Around the middle in 360º stripe
• Above the shoulders

• Low impact
• Low traffic
• Far from traffic
• Slow traffic below 25 mph

Class 2

• 2-inch wide tape and 8.373 feet in length
• 1 &#;-inch wide tape and 12.2 feet in lengt

• Over the shoulders
• Two 360º stripes around the middle

• Near but good distance from traffic
• Low visibility
• Traffic faster than 25 mph

Class 3

• 2-inch wide tape and 12.92 feet in length

• Full silhouette outline
• Over the shoulders
• Two 360º stripes around the middle
• Stripes around arms and legs

• Traffic close to or exceeding 50 mph
• Close to high traffic or other hazardous areas

Your safety director or site manager needs a copy of the latest ANSI/ISEA 107 publication, which covers in depth all features of safety apparel for construction.

Expert Tip: Before buying safety vests, check the care label which indicates whether it&#;s ANSI/ISEA 107 compliant, the performance class of the safety vest, and its other safety features, such as whether it&#;s flame retardant.

How Can You Brand Safety Vests Within Construction Compliance?

The general rule of thumb for branding safety vests within construction compliance, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), is:

• The front logo needs to be smaller than 16.25 inches (105 cm2) and shouldn't cover more than 3.8 sq. in. (25 cm2) of the retro-reflective strips.
• The back logo can be as big as 77.5 sq. in. (500 cm2) but not obscure any of the retro-reflective strips.

Working with the right branding partner ensures that regardless of whether you&#;re branding safety vests, jackets, or bibs, your logo placement is always optimal and fully compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs high visibility safety apparel (HVSA) and safety vests?

The need for HVSA and safety vests is determined by two factors:

• The legislative requirements of the jurisdiction the construction site falls under
• Potential hazards a worker can encounter on site based on a hazard assessment

Where the worker is exposed to motorized equipment or oncoming traffic, fluorescent fabrics with retro-reflective strips are mandatory for high visibility.

Other protective features may be incorporated into safety vests to meet additional hazards. For example, flame retardant fabrics where fire is a risk or 5-point breakaway vests to prevent getting caught in machine parts.

What is ANSI/ISEA 107?

It&#;s an industry consensus standard first published in by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Updated every 5 years, it&#;s a voluntary standard that specifies the requirements for high visibility safety apparel and headwear. It&#;s recognized and compliance mandated by many regulatory authorities, including OSHA.

What&#;s the difference between ANSI 207 and ANSI 107 safety vest standards?

ANSI 207 was the industry safety standard specifically developed for public safety workers, like law enforcement personnel.

However, it was incorporated into the ANSI 107 publication of with these new performance classes for high visibility safety apparel:

• Type O (Off-road): Performance class 1 for workers in temporary control areas, not exposed to high traffic (below 25 mph)
• Type R (Roadway): Performance class 2 (25&#;45 mph speeds) or class 3 (beyond 50 mph) for workers exposed to highway traffic or in roadway temporary control zones
• Type P (Public Safety): Performance class 2 or 3 for law enforcement and emergency responders exposed to struck-by hazards off-road or on roadways

Get Started on Your Custom Safety Vest Order

With the foundation of this beginner&#;s guide, you&#;re equipped to provide your construction crew with safety vests that are compliant to the relevant safety regulations.

As you upgrade the safety of your team, don&#;t forget to brand their safety vests accordingly with the services of an expert printer. Reach out to us today for a no-obligation custom quote.

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