We know that we’ve written a post explaining that ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute, and that they are responsible for coming to a consensus on what is considered safe working procedures and safe working environments. We also know that as you browse our site you may see things like ANSI Class II Safety Vests and that you might wonder what exactly is the difference between the classes. Read on to learn more!

ANSI Class 1: Refers to workers who have a lot of distance between them and traffic. It also refers to employees in a working zone where vehicles and motorized equipment does not got over 25 mph. Examples of workers who require this type of garment include: Warehouse workers where motorized equipment is utilized, parking lot attendants, and those performing sidewalk upkeep.

ANSI Class 2: These garments are for workers who are located where complex visual backgrounds may exist and the worker needs to be distinguished. Some examples of workers who require this type of clothing include: First responders, tollgate operators, airport baggage attendants, and roadway construction workers.

ANSI Class 3: These garments must be highly visible for workers who are in the highest of risk scenarios. Not only is visibility a key factor, but the worker must also be able to have a full range of body motion while wearing these garments, from the minimum distance of 1280 feet. Some examples of people who would wear this class of clothing include: Highway maintenance crews, emergency response personnel, and tow truck operators.

ANSI Class E: This classes refers specifically to retro-reflective equipped pants or shorts. The intent of these garments are to be worn with Class 2 or Class 3 tops to create even greater visibility for the worker. When both classes are worn in conjunction, they are rated as Performance Class 3.