What Is the ANSI Standard? Understanding OSHA & ANSI Safety Compliance Rules

Key Takeaway

ANSI/ISEA 107 is the national standard for high-visibility safety apparel. It defines how workwear should be constructed to improve visibility on the job. OSHA expects employers to follow this standard when visibility hazards exist, especially near roadways, moving equipment, or low-light environments. If you’re responsible for worker safety, knowing the correct ANSI garment type (O, R, or P) and performance class (1, 2, or 3) is critical.

What Is ANSI/ISEA 107?

ANSI/ISEA 107 is the U.S. standard that sets clear, measurable requirements for high-visibility safety apparel. It defines how garments should be tested, designed, built, and labeled to protect workers in hazardous environments.

Developed by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), this standard ensures that garments used on jobsites meet consistent, measurable safety criteria.

It outlines key requirements for:

• Fluorescent background colors, such as lime, orange, or red
• Reflective striping, including width, placement, and brightness
• Coverage area, based on visibility needs and work conditions
• Garment types, depending on worker roles and environments

To be compliant, each garment must be labeled with its official Type: O for Off-Road, R for Roadway, or P for Public Safety. It must also include the correct Performance Class: 1, 2, or 3. This labeling helps safety managers quickly confirm whether a vest, shirt, or jacket meets the visibility needs of a specific job.

Now that we’ve covered what ANSI/ISEA 107 is and how it defines compliant apparel, let’s look at how OSHA incorporates this standard into enforcement.

How Does OSHA Treat ANSI Standards?

ANSI standards are voluntary. However, once OSHA references them, they become the practical benchmark for compliance.

In the case of high-visibility apparel, OSHA doesn’t write its own performance specs. Instead, it relies on ANSI/ISEA 107 to define what counts as acceptable visibility gear. This is especially important for employers in construction, utilities, and transportation, where visibility hazards are common.

For instance, 29 CFR 1926.651(d) and 29 CFR 1926.201(a) require workers in roadway construction zones to wear high-visibility clothing. These rules refer to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which points directly to ANSI Class 2 or Class 3 garments depending on speed and traffic exposure.

So while ANSI isn’t technically law, OSHA uses it as the compliance baseline. If a worker is struck by a vehicle and wasn’t wearing the right high-vis gear, OSHA can cite the employer under the General Duty Clause for failing to provide appropriate protection.

Enforcement guidance also allows OSHA inspectors to flag non-compliant apparel even if it claims to be high-visibility. That includes garments that don’t meet labeling, coverage, or reflectivity standards outlined in ANSI 107.

If you’re making PPE decisions, knowing the ANSI standard isn’t enough, you need to know which garment types apply to which working conditions. That’s what we’ll cover next.

What Are the ANSI Garment Types?

ANSI 107 includes three garment types:

• Type O (Off-road): For workers not exposed to traffic or public roadways. Think warehouse, oil & gas, or mine sites.
• Type R (Roadway): For workers exposed to road traffic or construction equipment. This covers most highway, utility, and infrastructure roles.
• Type P (Public Safety): For law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS. These garments balance visibility with operational functionality, like access to gear or weapons.

Once you know the type of garment, you still need to understand the performance class to match the right level of visibility to the job.

What Are the ANSI Performance Classes?

The standard defines three classes based on minimum amounts of background and retroreflective material.

Class	Minimum Reflective Material	Used In
Class 1	155 in2	Low-risk environments. Occasional equipment.
Class 2	201 in2	Flaggers, airport ramp workers, utility techs.
Class 3	310 in2	High-speed traffic or complex work zones. Road crew, tow operators, incident responders.
Class E	109 in2	Pants, shorts, or bibs worn as supplemental high-visibility garments. They do not need a class rating on their won. When worn with a Class 2 or Class 3 vest or jacket, the full-body ensemble qualifies as Class 3.

Now let’s apply these classes to real-world scenarios so you can see exactly when and why each level of protection is required.

When Is Each Class Required?

Each ANSI performance class is tied to specific jobsite risks, like traffic speed, lighting, and worker proximity to hazards. The higher the risk, the higher the class required. Here’s how the right class plays out in real-world scenarios:

• Highway Resurfacing Crew: A DOT contractor is resurfacing an interstate at night. Workers are close to live traffic exceeding 55 mph and operating milling machines. ANSI Type R, Class 3 is required to ensure full-body visibility in low-light conditions. Reflective material must be visible from 360 degrees, as noted in MUTCD Part 6E.
• Distribution Warehouse: Workers pick and stage pallets inside a climate-controlled warehouse with powered industrial trucks but no public traffic. ANSI Type O, Class 1 apparel is acceptable, though many employers choose Class 2 to enhance visibility around forklifts.
• EMS at a Multi-Vehicle Crash: An emergency medical crew responds to a crash on a state highway at night. ANSI Type P, Class 3 is necessary due to proximity to high-speed traffic and the need for quick recognition. Breakaway vests or tear-away designs are often used to prevent snagging during patient transfer.

Knowing the right class is only part of the equation. The next step is making sure the gear you choose actually meets those requirements, and performs the way it should on the job.

How Kishigo Helps Safety Leaders Stay Compliant

Kishigo doesn’t just meet ANSI requirements, they design gear that holds up in the real world, where comfort, durability, and safety all matter.

What makes Kishigo different:

• All garments are ANSI/ISEA 107 compliant, with clear, reliable labeling that removes the guesswork.
• Reinforced stress zones, like zippers and pocket edges, stand up to repeat wear, not just day one.
• Breathable mesh construction keeps workers cooler and more focused in high-heat or high-output environments.
• Smart pocket placement makes storage accessible, even with gloves, belts, or harnesses in play.
• Flame-resistant styles combine visibility and arc protection, certified to meet both NFPA 70E and ASTM F1506 standards.

If you're managing crews, compliance isn’t optional, and neither is comfort or durability. Kishigo helps you cover all three.

Don’t settle for the bare minimum. Get the gear that meets the standard, fits the work, and earns your crew’s trust. Contact Kishigo to schedule a jobsite review today.