A pink hi vis vest is not compliant with ANSI/ISEA 107 or EN ISO 20471, and neither are blue, black or white vests. The standards only recognise three fluorescent background colours: fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red and fluorescent red. A pink, blue or black vest with certified reflective tape can still be useful — for event staff, team identification, women’s awareness campaigns or low-risk areas — but it is not certified high-visibility apparel and should not be used where a visibility class is required.
Which Colours the Standards Accept
| Colour | ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 | EN ISO 20471 | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluorescent yellow-green | Yes | Yes (fluorescent yellow) | Construction, logistics, roadwork |
| Fluorescent orange-red | Yes | Yes | Roadwork, rail, utilities |
| Fluorescent red | Yes | Yes | Some public safety and rail uses |
| Pink / fluorescent pink | No | No | Campaigns, team ID, events |
| Blue, green, purple | No | No | Role identification, visitors, events |
| Black or white | No (background) | No (background) | Contrast trims on certified garments |
Each colour must also meet chromaticity and luminance limits, so “orange” or “yellow” alone is not enough — the fabric has to be tested.
Why Pink, Blue and Black Vests Are So Popular
- Identification: sites use colours to tell supervisors, first aiders, visitors and contractors apart.
- Brand and campaigns: pink vests are used for awareness months and women’s teams; blue matches some company colours.
- Dirt: black vests and black lower panels hide grime.
These are legitimate needs. The question is whether the role needs certified visibility.
How to Get Both: Identification and Compliance
- Coloured trims: keep a compliant fluorescent body and use a coloured collar, shoulder panel or piping for identification.
- Printed role titles: “SUPERVISOR”, “FIRST AID” or “VISITOR” printed on a compliant vest.
- Two-tone with care: a dark lower panel can be fine if the smallest size still meets the background area for its class.
- Non-certified coloured vests only where allowed: indoors, at events, or in areas without vehicle and plant traffic.
From Our Factory Floor
Since 2004 we have produced vests in almost every colour buyers ask for. Our standard advice:
- We label non-standard colour vests clearly as non-certified so they are not mixed up with PPE stock.
- For pink, we can match a brand pink on trims while keeping the body fluorescent yellow or orange, which keeps the vest compliant.
- Reflective tape can be certified on a pink or blue vest, but that does not make the vest compliant — the background colour still fails.
FAQ
Is a pink safety vest OSHA approved?
OSHA does not approve garments. Where US rules require ANSI/ISEA 107 apparel, a pink vest does not qualify because pink is not an accepted background colour.
Are blue hi vis vests compliant?
No. Blue vests are used for identification but are not certified high-visibility garments.
Can a black vest with reflective tape be used at night?
It improves night visibility, but it gives little daytime visibility and is not compliant. Use it only where certified hi vis is not required.
Request a Quote
Tell us the colours, roles, quantity and whether each vest must be certified. We will propose compliant options with identification features, or clearly labelled non-certified vests for events. See our hi vis vests or contact our team.
This guide is general information from a hi vis clothing manufacturer. Always confirm the standard, class and site rules that apply to your work; the published standards are the final reference.
