As spring turns to summer, outdoor workwear shifts from heavy jackets and long-sleeved tees to hi-viz shirts. Safety tees made of breathable material keeps you cool on the job, wicking away sweat and moisture while also keeping you visible--an important consideration when working with heavy equipment and around traffic.
ANSI High-Visibility Standards and Safety Tees
ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, sets the standards for high-visibility workwear. ANSI standards are enforced by OSHA inspectors and the Federal Highway Administration. Hi-viz shirts are required for any work along roadways, as well as construction, maintenance, surveying, landscaping, towing, emergency response, utility work, paving, flagging, and similar work environments.
High Visibility Shirts
Safety tees come in bright, fluorescent colors for easy visibility. In addition, ANSI requires the use of reflective tape on most hi-viz shirts, so employees can be seen in low-light or nighttime conditions. Examples of high-quality safety shirts include:
- CROWN Hi-Viz ANSI Class 2 Tees are moisture wicking safety tees made from 100 percent polyester, with two vertical and one horizontal reflective tape stripes.
- Caterpillar Hi-Viz Sleeveless Tees are ideal for hot summer days. These hi-viz shirts include anti-odor and moisture-wicking technology to keep workers cool and dry.
- Bayside Women’s Hi-Viz Shirts include 2- laminate stripes. Made from a 50/50 cotton polyester blend, these bright tees are available in orange and yellow.
- Carhartt Force Color Enhanced Short Sleeve Shirts wick away sweat while resisting stains. Ideal for situations where ANSI standards may not apply but extra visibility is desired.
- ML Kishigo Class 2 T-Shirts are made from moisture-wicking polyester with 2-inch wide silver reflective material on flat-stitched contrast panels to provide increased daytime visibility.
High Visibility Jackets
Just because it’s summer doesn't mean you won’t encounter cold or rainy conditions. These hi viz jackets help keep you warm and dry when the weather takes a turn for the worse:
- The CROWN Contractor Hooded Softshell Jacket meets ANSI Class 3 requirements. A thermal lining adds warmth without bulk, and the outer shell is stain resistant. Multiple pockets provide plenty of storage space.
- The Comfort-Brite Hi-Viz Rain Jacket is an ANSI Class 3 flame resistant hi-viz rain jacket with a zipper/storm fly front and roll-away hood in the collar.
- The Tingley Rubber Bomber II Jacket is ANSI Class 3 compliant and 100 percent waterproof. Available in orange and yellow, this high viz jacket includes a roll-away hood and insulated quilted inner lining for extra warmth.