The ANSI Safety Vest Requirements

These standards are set regarding products, processes, services, different systems, and the workers in the United States. These are voluntary consensus standards, meaning all parties develop them with cooperation, agreed-upon terms, and common interests. When it comes to the ANSI safety vest requirements, know that many parties took careful consideration to come to agreed-upon standards to keep you safe.

Different industries have different standards for safety depending on how potentially dangerous their job is. Therefore, ANSI has created three separate classifications based on the work environment and job position. Based on the classifications, workers may choose the right vest given their particular circumstances.

Class 1 ANSI Safety Vest

The vests in class 1 are categorized as the lowest risk level jobs. Workers in areas where traffic travels at 25 mph or below should wear these, as well as anyone working a safe distance from a road.

Workers who complete jobs such as sidewalk repair in a residential area may use class 1 vests. These vests must be yellow or orange and have reflective tape on them that is no less than 155 square inches. Sleeves are not necessary, but the torso must be covered.

Class 2 ANSI Safety Vest

As you might have guessed, class 2 vests are used for elevated risk levels. Workers who are on roadways with traffic up to 50 mph should be wearing these. They are larger in size than class 1 vests because of the higher visibility and reflective tape requirements.

Survey crews, airport workers, and crossing guards wear class 2 safety vests which also have to be safety yellow or orange. Additionally, they must have a minimum of 775 inches of background material and 201 square inches of reflective striping.

Class 3 ANSI Safety Vest

In class 3, there are jackets and vests reserved for the most dangerous work environments. Industries where visibility is of the highest priority include roadways where traffic goes over 50 mph, emergency workers, and personnel who work in inclement weather or confined spaces and need to be seen.

Those who work these types of positions should always be equipped with emergency gear and a confined space escape kit. People who work in settings where a class 3 safety vest is required need to be taking as many precautions as possible to maintain safety.

We at Major Safety not only take pride in being able to provide those who do the most dangerous jobs with reliable equipment and support gear, but also crucial information regarding that gear and its best uses. Becoming knowledgeable on the best ways to maintain your safety and protect your life and limbs is crucial. We want people to be able to select the proper attire and devices for the specific work they do, especially if they’re finding little guidance elsewhere. The ANSI safety vest requirements are in place to ensure that no matter what happens, you’re easily visible and locatable.