Built on 40+ Years of Expertise

Safety Resources

Everything you need to know about ANSI standards, OSHA requirements, and choosing the right high-visibility safety apparel and hard hats.

High Visibility Safety Apparel Standards

ANSI/ISEA 107 is the standard for high-visibility safety apparel. Understanding these classes helps you choose the right vest for your work environment.

1

Class 1 Safety Vest

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020

Lowest level of visibility. For workers in controlled parking areas or workspaces with speeds under 25 mph, well-separated from traffic.

Minimum Requirements:

  • • 217 sq in of reflective material
  • • 950 sq in of background material
  • • 1" reflective tape

Best for: Parking lot attendants, warehouse workers, shopping cart retrievers

2

Class 2 Safety Vest

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020

Most commonly required class. For workers in intermediate traffic areas or work with speeds between 25-50 mph.

Minimum Requirements:

  • • 310 sq in of reflective material
  • • 1,240 sq in of background material
  • • 1.35" reflective tape

Best for: Road construction, utility workers, survey crews, parking enforcement

3

Class 3 Safety Vest

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 — Highest Visibility

Maximum visibility. Required for workers in high-speed traffic areas (50+ mph), near moving vehicles, or in complex backgrounds.

Minimum Requirements:

  • • 1,240 sq in reflective
  • • 2,426 sq in background
  • • Full sleeve coverage

Sleeve or Full Body:

  • • Class 3 vest with sleeves
  • • Class 3 jacket
  • • Class 3 coverall

Best for: Highway construction, flagging operations, emergency response

Hard Hat Standards

ANSI Z89.1 is the standard for industrial head protection. Learn about types and electrical classes to ensure your workers are properly protected.

Type I Hard Hats

ANSI Z89.1-2014

Designed to reduce the force of impact resulting from a blow to the top of the head. Most common type for general construction.

Best Applications:

  • General construction
  • Roofing
  • Carpentry
  • Framing

Type II Hard Hats

ANSI Z89.1-2014

Designed to reduce the force of impact from both top AND side impacts. Features a full brim and enhanced side protection.

Best Applications:

  • Utility work
  • Traffic control
  • Forestry
  • Demolition

Electrical Protection Classes

G

Class G

20kV

General use. Protects against 2,200 volts AC. Common for construction and general industry.

E

Class E

20kV

Electrical. Highest protection available. Required for utility workers and electricians.

C

Class C

N/A

Conductive. NOT for electrical work. Only for impact protection in non-electrical environments.

Check the Manufacture Date Inside Your Hard Hat

Every ANSI-certified hard hat has the manufacture date stamped inside. Replace hard hats every 2-5 years depending on type. Inspect regularly for cracks, dents, or signs of wear.

Learn More

OSHA Requirements

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires employers to provide appropriate personal protective equipment, including head protection and high-visibility apparel.

1

29 CFR 1910.132

General PPE requirements. Employers must assess workplace hazards and provide appropriate PPE at no cost to workers.

2

29 CFR 1910.135

Head protection must be worn when there's risk of injury from falling objects, electrical shock, or other impact hazards.

3

29 CFR 1910.138

Employers must provide appropriate hand protection based on workplace hazard assessments.

Key OSHA Points for Safety Apparel

  • PPE must meet relevant ANSI standards (Z89.1 for hard hats, 107 for high-visibility apparel)
  • Employers must pay for PPE required for workplace hazards
  • Workers must be trained on proper use, care, and maintenance of PPE
  • PPE must be inspected regularly and replaced when damaged
  • High-visibility apparel required in roadway work zones (MUTCD guidelines)

Note: State OSHA programs may have additional requirements. Check your local regulations.

Available Colors

Our safety vests and hard hats come in a variety of ANSI-compliant colors. Custom colors available for large orders.

Safety Vest Colors

Safety Orange

Most visible in daytime

Safety Yellow

High visibility

Lime Green

Maximum daylight visibility

Red

Emergency personnel

Navy Blue

Professional appearance

Black

Premium look

Hard Hat Colors

White

Supervisors, foremen

Yellow

Workers, laborers

Orange

Visitors, contractors

Red

Safety personnel

Blue

Engineers, architects

Green

New employees

Need a custom color? Custom colors available for orders of 100+ units. Contact us for details.

Need Help Choosing the Right Products?

With 40+ years of experience, we can help you select the right ANSI-compliant safety vests and hard hats for your workplace.

No minimum order
Free consultation
Volume discounts