Traffic Safety Vest Regulations

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) determines safety regulations and standards for a variety of industries. While local law determines traffic safety vest regulations, the widely accepted standard is the American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel (ANSI/ISEA 107-2004).

Introduction

• The ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 standard categorizes garment requirements in three classes. The worker's environment determines the required garment class.

Design

• The ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 standard outlines the requirement amounts of background, reflective material and placement required of the garment classes. See the Resources for a quick reference guide of these requirements.

Class I

• Designed for workers who are set back from roadways where traffic is less than 25 miles per hour. These garments are generally vests.

Class II

• Designed for workers who are set back from roadways where traffic exceeds 25 mph or where poor weather may hamper visibility. These garments cover the torso.

Class III

• Designed for workers in high-risk locations, near roadways where traffic exceeds 50 mph or where poor weather may hamper visibility. These garments cover the torso and include arm and/or leg coverage.