Hi-Vis and PPE by Trade: What Each Crew Needs

Hi-vis and PPE requirements by trade come down to where the work happens and what can hurt people there. Workers inside a temporary traffic control zone on a public road need ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or Class 3 hi-vis. Warehouses mostly set their own hi-vis rules and lean hard on foot and hand protection. Utility crews have to settle flame and arc exposure before they pick any vest, and public works crews should plan for traffic even on short tasks.

Each trade below gets what the rules say and a practical starting kit. Treat the kits as a first draft of your own hazard assessment. OSHA's general PPE rule (29 CFR 1910.132) requires employers to assess the workplace for hazards and select PPE that protects against them.

Hi-vis and PPE requirements by trade at a glance

What hi-vis do road crews and flaggers need?

What the rules say. The federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices sets the roadway requirement. MUTCD 11th Edition, Section 6C.05 says that all workers within the right-of-way who are inside a temporary traffic control zone shall wear apparel meeting Performance Class 2 or 3 of ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 "or equivalent revisions," so 2020 garments qualify. A person designated by the employer to be responsible for worker safety shall select the class.

You may still see 23 CFR 634 cited for Federal-aid highways. That rule was folded into the MUTCD in 2010, and the requirement now reaches all public roads.

For flaggers, OSHA's construction rule (29 CFR 1926.201) requires warning garments to conform to Part 6 of the MUTCD. MUTCD guidance adds that flaggers working at night should wear Class 3. Our guide to OSHA safety vest requirements lays out each of OSHA's hi-vis rules in one place.

Starting kit:

• A Type R Class 3 shirt, vest or jacket for night work, flagging and heavy traffic. The 73100 long sleeve shirt is ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Type R Class 3 compliant on its own.
• Type R Class 2 vests or shirts as the floor for daytime right-of-way work, where your agency allows it.
• Safety toe boots rated EH and SR. Every Kiwi boot uses a GripTrek outsole, a slip and oil resistant lugged outsole that matters most on a wet shoulder at the end of a lane closure.
• Coated grip gloves for cones, signs and hand tools.

See the full kit in our road and highway collection.

What PPE do warehouse workers need?

What the rules say. ANSI/ISEA 107 defines Type O garments for off-road work where people are not exposed to highway traffic, and Type O comes only in Class 1. No federal rule sets a hi-vis class for a warehouse floor. Your site may set its own because of forklifts, trucks and yard equipment.

Feet are a clearer call. OSHA's foot protection rule (29 CFR 1910.136) requires protective footwear where there is danger of foot injury from falling or rolling objects or objects piercing the sole. Pallet work and forklift traffic put many docks in that category.

Starting kit:

• Type R Class 2 vests where the site wants hi-vis. Kiwi doesn't make Class 1, and a Class 2 vest carries far more material than the Class 1 minimum.
• Black reflector vests or shirts for low-risk indoor areas where no class is required. They are labeled "Reflectors Only" and are not a rated class.
• Composite or steel toe boots rated ASTM F2413-24 I/75 C/75, with SR for wet dock plates and loading ramps. Composite is the lighter of the two.
• A1 grip gloves for boxes and stretch film. Kiwi's PUD gloves use DexLock, an ultra-thin polyurethane palm coating that keeps close to bare-hand grip on the hundredth carton of a pick shift.
• A4 cut-resistant gloves where workers handle metal banding, glass or sharp edges, with higher cut levels in the cut-resistant collection.

Our guide to the best gloves for warehouse work matches each coating and cut level to dock tasks. Browse the warehouse and logistics collection for the rest.

What hi-vis can utility and electrical crews wear?

What the rules say. Utility crews working along roads fall under the same right-of-way rules as road crews, so Class 2 or Class 3 applies.

Electrical work adds a second question, and it comes first: flame and arc exposure. OSHA's rule for electric power generation, transmission and distribution (29 CFR 1910.269) requires employers to identify employees exposed to flames or electric arcs. Those employees must not wear clothing that could melt onto the skin or ignite and keep burning. The rule also lists conditions where the outer layer of clothing must be flame resistant.

That decides the hi-vis. Our current hi-vis is marked not flame resistant. Do not wear it where FR or arc-rated clothing is required. If your hazard assessment finds flame or arc exposure, choose hi-vis that is rated for it.

For feet, EH rated boots add secondary protection against electric shock. Kiwi boots are tested to withstand 18,000 volts at 60 Hz for one minute with no current leakage under dry conditions. That protection drops as the outsole wears, gets wet or picks up contamination, and EH footwear is not a substitute for dielectric footwear.

Starting kit for tasks without flame or arc exposure:

• Type R Class 2 or Class 3 hi-vis for roadside and right-of-way work.
• EH and SR rated safety toe boots. Every Kiwi boot lists both.
• A4 cut-resistant gloves for wire, cable and sharp hardware, with higher cut levels available in the cut-resistant collection. These are not arc rated and not for electrical protection, so they never stand in for insulating gloves.

See the electrical and utility collection.

What PPE do public works crews need?

What the rules say. Street maintenance, sanitation, parks, water and survey crews often work inside the right-of-way. Inside a temporary traffic control zone, MUTCD Section 6C.05 calls for Class 2 or Class 3. Collection crews step on and off trucks in live traffic. Survey crews may stand in a lane to take a shot. Plan for traffic exposure even when the task is short.

Starting kit:

• Type R Class 3 for collection routes, night work and busy corridors. Class 2 for lower exposure daytime work where your agency allows it.
• Waterproof or water resistant safety toe boots with SR for curbs, mud and wet grass.
• Cut-resistant coated gloves for collection work, where bags can hide broken glass and sharp metal. Cut resistance is not needle protection, so train crews to handle bags by the top and away from the body.
• Layering pieces for weather, with the rated hi-vis garment always on the outside.

See our municipal and public works collection and sanitation and waste collection, or browse every trade on the shop by trade page.

PPE checklist for any trade

• List each task and where it happens: indoors, yard, roadside or live lane.
• Mark any work in a public right-of-way, especially inside a temporary traffic control zone. Plan on Type R, Class 2 or higher.
• Mark night work and flagging, and plan on Class 3.
• Note flame, arc or hot work. Hi-vis that is not flame resistant does not belong there.
• Note falling, rolling or piercing hazards for feet, and electrical hazards for EH.
• Match glove cut level to the sharpest edge workers touch.
• Check what your agency, project owner or customer specifies.

Frequently asked questions

Does OSHA require hi-vis in warehouses?

No OSHA rule names a hi-vis class for warehouse work. Hi-vis comes in through the employer's PPE hazard assessment under 29 CFR 1910.132, and many facilities require it where people work around forklifts and yard trucks.

What class of hi-vis do flaggers need?

Flaggers inside a temporary traffic control zone need Class 2 or Class 3 under the MUTCD, and OSHA's construction rule points flaggers to the MUTCD. For night flagging, MUTCD guidance says Class 3 should be worn. Your agency or contract may set a higher bar, so check it.

Can electricians wear a regular hi-vis vest?

Only where the hazard assessment finds no flame or arc exposure. Where 29 CFR 1910.269 or your assessment calls for flame resistant clothing, a hi-vis garment marked not flame resistant cannot be the outer layer.

Do warehouse workers need steel toe boots?

They need protective footwear where falling or rolling objects or sole punctures are a danger. Steel and composite toes both meet ASTM F2413-24 I/75 C/75, so either works. Composite is lighter and contains no metal in the toe cap.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. No trade summary replaces a site-specific hazard assessment or the rules where your crew works.

One order for hi-vis, boots and gloves

Many crews need all three categories at once, and Kiwi can quote them together. List the trades, roles and sizes on the quote request form and mixed styles ship in one order. For branded hi-vis, see custom logo bulk orders: 12 item minimum, a proof before production and a 2 to 3 week lead time. Dealers and distributors can reach our wholesale team at sales@kiwiworkwear.com.