Working in low light and on roadside construction sites can be a potentially dangerous situation if the right precautions aren’t taken. Each year, many workers that work under these conditions sustain injuries, many of which are fatal.

Any construction workers, emergency personnel, law enforcement officers, and highway and pavement workers are in a vulnerable position because they run the risk of not being seen by passing motorists and large equipment operators. It’s critical to be clearly seen by these individuals, which is why hi-vis workwear is imperative on the job.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has developed specific standards — ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 — when it comes to hi-visibility work apparel in order to ensure that these pieces of clothing are appropriate for the work site, particularly when the lighting is very low or the work site is very close to a roadway. There are many options for this type of apparel, including T-shirts, vests, long sleeve shirts, and pants.

While this type of hi-visibility clothing is available in a variety of forms, the most common are the Class 1 safety vest, Class 2 safety vest, or Class 3 safety vest. These are also known as traffic or construction vests.

For bad weather situations, ANSI jackets, parkas, bombers, rain gear, and reflective sweatshirts are ideal. During warmer seasons, fluorescent and reflective T-shirts might be more appropriate.

It’s imperative that ANSI hi-visibility clothing is visible both during the day and night. The ANSI standard sets out how much reflective material the apparel must have. Hi-vis clothing that complies with ANSI standards has become the standard in various industries to adequately protect workers by heightening their visibility. In addition, workers who are in the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway close to traffic, equipment, or machinery in the work area must wear ANSI-approved reflective clothing.

Wearing the right type of reflective clothing can help keep workers in various situations much safer thanks to their increased visibility.