NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH: HIGH-VISIBILITY WORKWEAR THAT WORKS AS HARD AS YOUR CREW

Let’s cut the fluff. National Safety Month isn’t about catchy slogans or safety posters no one reads. It’s about making sure your crew stays visible, stays protected, and makes it home in one piece.

If you’re in charge of safety gear—whether you’re a safety manager, procurement lead, or running a construction crew—you need high-visibility workwear that holds up in the real world, not just in some glossy catalog.

This month is your reminder: it’s time to rethink how you’re gearing up your team.

Visibility Saves Lives

Let’s get something straight: visibility isn’t optional. In construction zones, warehouses, or any place heavy machinery is moving faster than your coffee break, low visibility can kill. OSHA backs that up—and not just with scary stats. Struck-by incidents remain one of the top causes of death in construction, and most of them boil down to one thing: someone didn’t see someone else.

That’s where high-visibility workwear comes in. We’re talking real-deal construction workwear designed to catch eyes in any light, from blazing sun to foggy mornings to pitch-dark night shifts.

Female worker wearing HiVis sweatshirt in cold weather outdoors

Yes, It's the Law - But It's Also Smart

You already know you’re required by OSHA to provide a safe workplace. But in case you missed it, a new rule from the Department of Labor now requires PPE—including hi-vis safety gear—to actually fit your workers. That means no more drowning in oversized vests or squeezing into gear that was clearly designed for someone else.

This isn’t just about compliance. Ill-fitting gear equals less comfort, more risk, and lower buy-in from your crew. If you want them to wear it, it’s gotta work for them.

Two outdoor construction workers wearing hivis insulated workwear while directing traffic

Start With the Hazard Assessment (A.K.A. Don't Guess)

Choosing the right high-visibility safety gear isn’t about grabbing the cheapest vest from the supply shelf. You’ve got to size up your worksite. What’s the lighting like? Are folks working near traffic? Is there mud, rain, dust, or general chaos?

Loop in your safety pros, walk the site, and figure out where the real risks lie. Then—and only then—start choosing gear.

How To Pick the Right High-Visibility Workwear Without Getting Burned

    Here's your no-BS checklist:
  • Match the Gear to the Grind: Wet, cold, dark, dirty—whatever your site throws down, your gear should be ready. Visibility in daylight isn’t the same as at dawn in a storm.
  • Fit Isn’t Optional: If your crew hates how it feels, they won’t wear it. End of story. Choose gear built for real bodies doing real work—not runway models.
  • Know Your Class: ANSI Class 1, 2, 3—get familiar. The more exposure to moving equipment or traffic, the higher the class you need.
  • Think Long-Term: Cheap gear isn’t cheap if you’re replacing it every month. Know how the proper PPE affects your bottom line and look for construction workwear that’s as tough as your job site.
    • Outdoor worker wearing insulated hivis Iron-Tuff jacket

    Safety Culture is More Than A Memo

    You can have all the right safety gear in the world, but if your crew isn’t wearing it consistently, it’s just expensive decoration. Build a culture where PPE isn’t optional—and lead from the top down. Host real training, get feedback from the field, and make it clear: everyone goes home safe, or the job isn’t worth doing.

    Safety Month is Now - But the Stakes are Year-Round

    If National Safety Month gets you to finally toss the ripped-up vests and rethink your high-visibility workwear, great. But don’t let that mindset end in June. Every day is a safety day when you’re running a site where lives are on the line.

    Ready to kit out your crew in safety gear that earns its keep? Do it right, or don’t bother.