MUTCD vs. FHWA vs. ANSI: Understanding the Standards That Govern Hi-Vis Safety

If you’re responsible for keeping crews safe in high-traffic areas, you've probably asked yourself: What does it take to stay compliant with high-visibility safety apparel standards? The answer should be simple, but it rarely is.

Three different organizations are involved, each with its own role. If you don’t know how they connect, it’s easy to choose the wrong apparel or miss a critical requirement. In this article, we’ll walk you through how MUTCD, FHWA, and ANSI work together, and how to stay ahead with compliant, high-visibility workwear.

What Is MUTCD?

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) sets the national rules for traffic signs, markings, and signals. But its impact goes beyond signs, it also shapes how workers are protected in live traffic zones.

Under Section 6C.05, any worker exposed to moving vehicles inside a Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) zone) must wear Class 2 or Class 3 high-visibility apparel that complies with the latest version of ANSI/ISEA 107.

The requirement applies to more than just road crews. It includes:

• Pavement inspectors
• Lane closure installers
• Equipment operators
• Signal maintenance techs

If your team is near live traffic, no matter how short the shift, MUTCD applies. The only exception: emergency responders, who are allowed to wear ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 compliant vests instead. These are tailored for fast access to radios, tools, and protective equipment.

By making high-visibility apparel a condition of safety, MUTCD sets a federal baseline that reaches every jobsite tied to public roadways. However, that baseline is only part of the story; let’s look at who’s responsible for enforcing it.

What Is FHWA and What Does It Do?

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) enforces the standards that MUTCD lays out. It's not just a policy group, it actively oversees work zone compliance, especially on federally funded projects.

This includes:

• Auditing roadside safety programs
• Setting nationwide best practices for work zones
• Issuing formal interpretations of MUTCD rules

While FHWA doesn’t write the visibility standards, it does determine how those standards are applied in the field. Its guidance influences what inspectors look for, what procurement teams approve, and what frontline workers are required to wear. So, who actually sets the standards that FHWA enforces?

Who Is ANSI and What Is ANSI/ISEA 107?

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private organization that helps define how products, from ladders to lenses, should perform. It doesn’t make laws, but its standards often become part of federal or state regulations.

For high-visibility workwear, the most important ANSI document is ANSI/ISEA 107. This standard is created with the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), a trade group that represents the companies designing and manufacturing safety products.

ANSI/ISEA 107 outlines the specific requirements for compliant workwear, including:

• How much reflective material is needed
• What background colors are acceptable
• Where reflective bands must be placed
• How garments are labeled by Type (O, R, P) and Class (1, 2, 3)

This standard helps manufacturers, safety professionals, and jobsite managers stay aligned on what “compliant apparel” really means. If a vest doesn’t meet ANSI/ISEA 107, it may not meet MUTCD, and that puts workers and employers at risk.

Now that we’ve covered who sets the standard, who adopts it, and who enforces it, let’s tie it all together.

How Do MUTCD, FHWA, and ANSI Work Together?

Each organization has its own job to do, but compliance depends on how they connect. To make the right decisions, you need to understand how they work together:

• MUTCD makes that standard a requirement for work zones
• FHWA enforces that requirement on active roadways
• ANSI defines how high-visibility apparel should be built

Think of it as a chain: specification, adoption, enforcement. Where things get tricky is when apparel looks compliant but isn’t. A vest might be labeled “ANSI-compliant,” but if it follows an outdated standard, or lacks the right classification for the work, it could still fall short.

That’s why safety professionals need more than a basic understanding of these groups. You’re not just buying workwear, you’re selecting legally required PPE that must meet current, documented standards.

One weak link, like relying on a product labeled “ANSI 107” without checking the revision year, can lead to liability, failed inspections, or worse.

Understanding how these standards connect gives you the confidence to make the right call, no matter the size of your operation. Whether you’re managing a single crew or coordinating statewide projects, compliance isn’t optional. That’s where Kishigo makes the difference.

How Kishigo Helps You Stay Compliant

Staying compliant with MUTCD, FHWA, and ANSI shouldn’t be a full-time job. Kishigo designs high-visibility workwear that does the hard work for you.

Here’s how we make it simple:

• Built for Today’s Standards: Our vests, shirts, and jackets meet or exceed ANSI/ISEA 107-2020, the standard MUTCD requires and FHWA enforces. As active members of the ANSI/ISEA 107 committee, we don’t just follow the standard. We help shape it.
• Confidence at a Glance: Each piece is clearly labeled by Class and Type, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
• Comfort That Works Overtime: Reinforced seams, breathable materials, and smart fits keep crews safe and comfortable all day.
• Ready When You Are: With over 1,300 SKUs and U.S.-based distribution, we get the right apparel to your site, fast.

Kishigo takes the guesswork out of compliance and helps you get it right the first time. We’re not just following the standards; we help shape them. As active members of the ANSI/ISEA 107 committee, and with our own Sandra Hanna serving as committee chairperson, we bring deep, firsthand knowledge of what compliance really means.

Need help choosing the right workwear? Reach out to our team. We’ll make sure your crew is protected, compliant, and ready to work.