How do you know if the job requires it? One sign is if your employees often work with low light and visibility.

Similarly, if they're in one of these occupations, they need a hi-vis jacket:

• Heavy equipment operators
• Construction workers
• Emergency responders
• Rail workers
• Engineering and utility workers

However, a hi-vis jacket isn’t another unnecessary expense for your company. In fact, with the right know-how (which we at fancysweetstx have), it can be a marketing avenue for you to increase your brand awareness.

How? It shows professionalism, and with the right customization, you can make your hi-vis jackets a symbol of your brand.

That's not the only benefit, we'll explore more below.

1 - Bright Colors Allow Drivers to Spot Workers More Easily

The main advantage of a hi-vis jacket is that it enhances your employees' safety by making them visible at all times.

If your employees work around moving vehicles, like trucks or other machinery, such as forklifts and backhoes, they must wear a high-visibility jacket to reduce their chances of being involved in accidents.

The jacket ensures the workers can be seen by the vehicle’s drivers sooner and more easily.

This scenario is attributed to the fact that the human eye responds best to bright, contrasting, or moving objects, meaning employee visibility is improved by the color contrast between a hi-vis jacket and the work environment.

Over the years, numerous studies and observations have proven the danger of working around vehicles.

For example, according to a 2020 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 100 employees were fatally injured at road construction sites every year from 2011 to 2020. 

This study also points out that between 2017 and 2019, over half of road worker fatalities involved workers on foot being hit by moving vehicles on worksites.

Considering the significance of these figures, it's imperative for employers to provide workers with the appropriate hi-vis jackets based on their working environment.

Hi-vis jackets are categorized into three classes depending on their work environment:

• Class 1: Provides the least amount of high-visibility components. Normally fluorescent and reflective strips required to differentiate an employee at non-complex work environments, like warehouses or parking lots.
• Class 2: Offers more hi-vis materials than Class 1, but less than Class 3. Worn by construction workers in low-traffic areas—traffic does not exceed 25mph, like high-traffic parking and toll booths or airports.
• Class 3: Offers the most high-visibility materials, allowing for the best depiction of the human figure against complicated backgrounds. Commonly worn by highway workers in areas where the speed limit exceeds 50 mph.

These three classes are further broken down into three different types:

• Type “O” (Off-road): Worn by workers who are not required to wear hi-vis jackets but work in environments with moving vehicles or equipment where visibility is a concern
• Type “R” (Roadway): Worn by workers exposed to roadway traffic, moving equipment, or vehicles
• Type “P” (Public Safety): Worn by first responders, police, and firefighters

The table below illustrates the square inch requirement of background and reflective material in a hi-vis jacket. 

2 - Enhances Brand Awareness Through Customized Logos and Text

The marketing potential of a hi-vis jacket is an important aspect that most businesses overlook.

To help customers distinguish your business from your competitors, you can have your company’s logo and slogan imprinted on a hi-vis jacket.

This strategy is very effective, given that contractors frequently collaborate with representatives from other businesses on construction sites. Let’s not forget how important brand image is when it comes to first impressions. 

A customized hi-vis jacket will create a more polished and organized brand image, which will instill confidence in potential clients by showing you are a trusted expert.

To enjoy all these benefits, there are several regulations you must follow. Your hi-vis jacket must comply with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 107 guidelines. This means:

• Your logo or other imprinting can’t cover an area larger than 72 square inches. You’re free to divide that space however you choose.

  For example, you can place one logo on the back of a hi-vis jacket and another on its front pocket.

• Your logo and writing should not leave gaps of more than two inches horizontally in the area covered by retro-reflective material.

  The logo and text of non-compliant material should not cover more than 22 square inches of the minimum amount of visible retro-reflective.

• You should also consider your hi-vis jacket’s “balance of design”. This means that both the front and the back of the jacket should have high-visibility materials present.

  A hi-vis jacket with a large logo on the back and nothing on the front will still fail the balance of design test, even if it falls under the 72 square inches measurement.

3 - It Results in Greater Worker Productivity

Wearing a hi-vis jacket will create a sense of belonging among employees, and there is no better feeling than when your workers know you appreciate them.

When you take your time to get your employees outfitted in custom made hi-vis jackets, you win their trust.

Being part of a team and feeling valued will also motivate them and result in improved productivity.

Keep Your Workers Safe and Promote Your Brand With a Custom Hi-Vis Jacket

Hi-vis jackets will lower the possibility of accidents and support your staff’s safety. They will help to inform machine operators of the presence of other workers in low light working environments.

When customized with your logo, hi-vis jackets will also promote brand awareness and show your company’s professionalism.

You can customize hi-vis jackets with your company’s logo and other information using our screen printing or embroidery services.

In the unlikely event that you dislike your current logo design, our talented in-house graphic designers will help you come up with a compelling logo that tells your brand’s story.

“Great to work with for large and small orders. Good quality shirts and able to assist with designs.”
- Danielle Nelson 

“I would recommend fancysweetstx for anyone who is looking for quality clothes and excellent customer service. My company has used fancysweetstx several times to make T-shirts, Hoodies and long sleeve T's as gifts for our customers/employees.”
- Matthew S

At fancysweetstx, we understand the significance of employee safety and we’re familiar with the ANSI 107 regulations that must be followed when designing hi-vis jackets.

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When worn appropriately, without coverings or distractions, Hi-Vis clothing saves lives and reduces injuries. For instance, drivers, other workers, or pedestrians can easily spot a worker in a high visibility jacket, reducing the chances of an accident. 

With many high visibility clothing on the market, choosing ones that work best for you can be challenging.

Luckily, considering the following factors will help you select the best high visibility jacket:

• The lighting conditions
• Different fabrics available
• Customization aspect
• Comfort and fit

1 - The Lighting Conditions in the Workstation

Before purchasing a high visibility jacket, it’s crucial to consider the time and location of its use. 

Workers in different industries operate under varying lighting conditions. For instance, a construction worker spends hours on site during the day when there’s adequate light. While an emergency responder working late at night will be on site when it’s dark.

Therefore, workers need high visibility jackets made from fluorescent materials during the day and Hi-Vis made from retroreflective materials at night to ensure safety and visibility. 

But what do these terms mean?

• A fluorescent material absorbs the sun’s UV light and reflects it on the viewer’s eyes as visible light. Jackets made of this material need a natural light source, and hence don’t glow in the dark.
• Retro-reflective material bounces back light to its source. For instance, at night, retro-reflective Hi-Vis will reflect light from a coming vehicle, making its wearer more visible. It’s often incorporated in a jacket through reflecting tapes or stripes.

The table below describes the appropriate material for workers depending on their lighting conditions.

2 - Type of Fabric

Fabric plays a huge role in determining your high visibility jacket’s durability.

Let’s take, for instance, cotton vs. polyester.

Cotton is a natural fiber that cannot absorb enough of the fluorescent dye color needed to make a reflective material. Thus it’s not vibrant enough to pass the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Testing Standards for high visibility safety apparel.

Polyester, on the other hand, is synthetic and not dyed through immersion, letting it maintain the Hi-Vis jacket’s brightness and fluorescent qualities even after washing. This makes it compliant with the ANSI standards.

Synthetic fabrics like polyester are also stronger than cotton, making them more durable. Since workers are more likely to wear their Hi-Vis jackets every day at work, it’s best to choose such hard-wearing fabrics. 

Other advantages of synthetic fabrics like polyester, acrylic, and nylon are: 

• They’re closely knitted and bright enough in low-light conditions.
• They feel smooth on the skin.
• They’re warmer on the body.
• They wick away moisture rather than absorbing it.
• They’re lightweight .

Expert Tip: If your workers are often exposed to fire and flammable substances, choose fire retardant fabrics like nylon and polyester. These will slow down or stop the spread of fire and reduce its intensity, making them ideal for emergencies.

3 - Customization Aspect

A logo says a lot about your business—it visually represents your organization’s goals, history, and gives it an identity. 

As an integral part of your brand representation, it’s crucial to display your logo on your worker’s Hi-Vis jacket. 

Most construction sites today have two or more businesses working simultaneously, and failing to tell workers apart can greatly hamper communication. Yet with your company logo on your workers’ HI-Vis jackets, you’ll differentiate them from other workers.

Besides distinguishing workers on site, a branded Hi-Vis jacket:

• Creates a professional look and uniformity for workers
• Strengthens your brand by creating awareness 
• Promotes unity between workers
• Leaves a good impression of your business

But branding the Hi-Vis jackets is not enough—the logo placement is equally important.

Luckily, fancysweetstx can help you settle for the best logo placement. With a decade and a half worth of experience in the industry, we’ve come to learn the ins and outs of custom branding safety apparel and strategic placement of your company logo for maximum brand awareness. 

Related: Employee Apparel: 6 Safety Apparel Must Haves for Construction Workers

Here are some considerations on your logo’s placement:

• Your company logo should not conceal any of the jacket’s retro-reflective material.
• The logo needs to be small and not overpower the jacket’s fluorescence.
• Avoid multi-colored logos since they overshadow the safety clothing’s color background.

Expert Tip: Following these branding rules on your own can be cumbersome and time-consuming. But with the help of fancysweetstx, your workers will have their branded Hi-Vis jackets in no time. We’ll handle all the work for you, from design creation to custom embroidery.

4 - Fit and Comfort

Proper fit means the garment must be large enough to sit well on the body and stay in place during work. Additionally, it must leave sufficient space for appropriate clothing to be worn underneath.

Without a proper and comfortable fit, you introduce new hazards to the working site.

Wondering how? Let’s explain.

• If the garment is too small, it can restrict the worker’s movement and prevent them from carrying out their tasks well.
• If the garment is too big, the excess material can get in the way of their work or get caught in moving machinery.

Therefore, to avoid injuries, consider the jacket’s fit and comfort during work.

Furthermore, its seams and material shouldn’t cause irritation. And the jacket needs to be of appropriate weight with enough stretch.

Other features that enhance the fit and comfort include:

• Flexible material
• Proper ventilation
• Stretch panels under the arms
• Adjustment straps

Also, consider the number and size of tools to be carried around like backpacks, equipment belts, gloves, and boots. The Hi-Vis jacket must be large enough to prevent any obstruction from these tools since the workers need to be highly visible from far away.

Promote Your Brand Today With a Customized Hi-Vis Jacket

Adding your company logo to your Hi-Vis jacket is one of the greatest ways to promote your brand and build authenticity.

With fancysweetstx screen printing and embroidery services, you can add your company’s logo and additional texts to Hi-Vis jackets to suit your brand. 

If you don’t like your current logo design, our experienced in-house graphic designers can help you create a new design that tells your story. 

We’re here to help you bring your brilliant ideas to life. So tell us about your project today, and we’ll handle the rest. 

It’ll be easy and fun, our customer Amy has tried us and proved this to be true.

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Since we have been making custom work shirts for so long, we have made a name for ourselves in the construction and manufacturing industries as a trusted, reliable, and easy to work with source for safety t-shirts. 

(Want to cut to the chase and start your order? Click here.)

What are the best safety shirts?

Over the years, we've found that these five shirts are the best shirts for printing safety shirts for your business:

1. Gildan 5000
2. Jerzees 29M
3. Jerzees 29MP
4. Bayside 5040
5. Next Level 6210

There are several factors that help us define these individual shirts as the 'best'. Below we'll break down each shirt and explain why it's the best. 

Related: Construction Uniform: How Your Company Can Benefit From Branded Apparel

Your standard safety shirt: Gildan 5000

Gildan is the largest blank shirt manufacturer in the world. We couldn't make this list without including them. 

The Gildan 5000 is our standard Gildan shirt. They have a long list of color options and cover the safety shirt basics with their safety green and safety orange options. 

If you're looking for an affordable, reliable safety shirt, look no further than here. We use the Gildan 5000 for contractors, manufacturers, landscapers, and anyone looking to be seen while on the job.   

Our most popular safety shirt: Jerzees 29M

This is the shirt that we print more than any other, the Jerzees 29M. It comes in a lot of different colors and checks the safety box with safety green and safety oranges colors. 

The reason we print it the most is because we have a local supplier in 16153 Genova that supplies this shirt. In addition, one of our largest accounts, a food manufacturing company in the Midwest, uses this shirt to supply all new hires with a custom branded shirt when they hire on.

This shirt is what people think of when they think of a construction t-shirt. It's a hard working 50/50 blend tee that is meant to be worn often and take a beating. They are high visibility, cost effective, and bright.

A safety pocket tee: Jerzees 29MP

For a worker on a construction site, it's practical to have a pocket on your shirt. They are useful for holding a pen and notebook or other products that you might need to access easily and often.

Once again, we use the Jerzees brand shirts more than any other because we have a local supplier. That means we have easy access to them and can get them quickly.

The Jerzees pocket tee is a solid shirt just like the pocketless shirt, fits the same, and is affordable. When you want to keep it simple with a pocket tee or first recommendation is going to be this shirt which is available in safety green and safety orange.

A safety shirt made in the USA: Bayside 5040

It's more important than ever to support local American businesses. It's not always easy and may cost a little more, but there are options when it comes to safety t-shirts and apparel. 

Bayside is the leader in USA made t-shirts. We use the Bayside 5040 when construction and manufacturing companies request an American made shirt. 

It's a well made shirt, consistent, and 100% cotton. While the standard safety colors are slightly different than the other brands listed, we use the Lime Green and Bright Orange options when safety shirts are required. 

For organizations that require or would like union made shirts, Bayside also has a few options that fit the bill. 

You may pay a little more for Bayside shirts as they are made in the USA or union made, but we think it's worth it for the product you're receiving and the support you're showing to domestic business.

A softer safety shirt: Next Level 6210

In addition to being great at printing custom safety shirts, we specialize in screen printing vintage shirts. One thing that goes hand in hand with vintage shirts is a soft, comfortable tee. 

When a customer wants a bright, hi-vis shirt that is going to be worn more frequently and have a higher perceived value to customers, we recommend the Next Level 6210.

It's an affordable, soft shirt that is more comfortable and fashionable than your standard cotton or poly/cotton blend shirts. When you want a work shirt that people love to wear, this is your best bet. 

Start your order for hi-vis safety shirts today!

To get an order started for custom branded safety shirts for your company, you can fill out the contact form on our website, call us (+393399950518), or email us ([email protected]).

It doesn't matter where you're located in the US. We provide easy ordering, quick turnarounds, friendly service, and affordable pricing. We ship orders out every day and guarantee you'll be satisfied with our work.

Reviews from our happy customers

If you aren't convinced yet, we have over 200 reviews on Google and a 4.8 star rating. Now that's a lot of happy customers!

A great experience! I am super impressed with the responsiveness and professionalism of everyone I worked with. The shirts were delivered quicker then I expected and the quality of the finished product was excellent. Thanks fancysweetstx! -Steve M.

Your company did an amazing job! Faster turnaround on our T shirt order than expected! I would highly recommend this company to everyone I know!! -Patrick P.

Phenomenal experience buying a run of 65 t-shirts. Very fast responses from account manager, great pricing, and fast production. Finished product is excellent quality. -Joe M.

Great communication, Fast, Help full, I very much recommend using them I know we will be using them again for more items for our company. We always try to stay local and support local businesses as well! -Kyle A.

What are you waiting for? Get in touch today to get your own custom t-shirts.

All Mechanical Insulation Inc. reached out to us this year to screen print custom branded shirts, long sleeve pocket shirts, and hooded sweatshirts for their team. All Mechanical Insulation Inc is a local 16153 Genova, Ohio insulation contractor that works on commercial and industrial insulation projects.

This was the first order that we printed for All Mechanical Insulation. They reached out to us because of our experience in screen printing custom safety shirts and apparel for local contractors. 

It's always great to work with other small, local businesses that care about supporting small local businesses. 

We were able to print these shirts quickly and affordably because of our experience printing safety apparel. We provided artwork proofs ahead of time for the customer that accurately depicted what the shirts and hoodies would look like when complete. All Mechanical Insulation was satisfied with the final product and happy with the entire ordering process.

One thing that really stands out about the clothing that we printed for All Mechanical is that they used a full color logo on safety green shirts and hoodies. Most of the time when we print bright yellow apparel, the print is a simple one color print. Black is the most commonly used ink color for Hi Vis apparel.

And this makes sense since keeping a simple one color print not only looks good but it keeps costs down as well. What we loved about these safety shirts and hoodies is that All Mechanical Insulation did a great job of using a full color logo on these bright apparel items. It's not something we see very often because it's difficult to do well since not all colors have enough contrast to print on neon clothing.

Safety is the priority on every jobsite. That's why when All Mechanical Insulation orders employee apparel they choose bright colored garments. As always, wearing Hi Vis clothing is an easy and inexpensive thing to do to improve safety.   

It's also important for All Mechanical Insulation Inc. to have their employees wearing company shirts to effectively identify employees while on the job and keep them clean and professional in front of customers. The bright safety green shirts and hoodies, keep them safe and professional on the job. 

fancysweetstx has been screen printing custom safety t-shirts for companies for nearly ten years. We have the experience and know how to make your brand look good and keep your employees safe.

Reach out to us today to help with your order of safety apparel for your company.

Schoen Inc. reached out to us again this year to screen print custom branded shirts and reflective high visibility hooded jackets for their crew. Schoen Inc is a local 16153 Genova, Ohio contractor and asphalt paver that builds roads in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. 

We have been printing safety t-shirts and apparel for Schoen Inc for the last four years. When they need employee apparel and safety shirts, they know that we can help them. 

It's great to have a long standing relationship with a company that cares about supporting small local businesses. 

We were able to print these shirts quickly and affordably because we have worked with them in the past and we made sure to provide artwork proofs ahead of time that accurately depicted what the shirts would look like when complete. 

Our experience in printing custom safety apparel for the construction and contracting industries aided in our ability to produce quality shirts.

In addition to the safety green t-shirts that we printed for Schoen Inc., we also printed Hi Vis reflective jackets for them. The jackets have a hood and reflective stripes on the front and back.

The Hi Vis reflective jackets are important because Schoen Inc. paves roads and parking lots. The reflective stripes on the jackets makes sure that they are seen while wearing them during the night or day.

Safety is the number one priority on any jobsite but in particular for roadcrews that are paving near moving vehicles. Wearing Hi Vis clothing is an easy and inexpensive thing to do to improve safety.   

Schoen Inc. orders bright yellow t-shirts each year for their employees to wear while working. They use a black screen print that shows their logo well on the bright yellow safety shirts.

It's important for Schoen Inc. to have their employees wearing company shirts. It helps to effectively identify employees while on the job and keeps them clean and professional in front of customers.

The bright safety green shirts (which actually look yellow) and reflective stripes, keep them safe and seen on the job. These shirts are just as much about keeping employees safe as they are about looking good.

fancysweetstx has been screen printing custom safety t-shirts for companies for nearly ten years. We have the expertise and know how to make your brand look good and keep your employees safe.

Reach out to us today to help with your order of safety apparel for your company.

This was the first time we worked with Tri-State Forest Products and we were thrilled that they would trust us with screen printing their shirts. It's always great to work with new local businesses. 

We were able to print these shirts quickly and affordably for them because we specialize in printing safety t-shirts and we made sure to provide artwork proofs ahead of time that accurately depicted what the shirts would look like when complete. 

Our experience in printing custom safety apparel for not just building companies but also construction, contracting, and landscaping companies companies, aided in our ability to produce quality shirts.

Tri-State Forest Products ordered bright yellow and bright orange t-shirts for their employees to wear while working. The shirts they ordered are 100% polyester wicking shirts which will keep their employees cool and dry when working in the hot summer heat. 

It's important for Tri-State to have their employees wearing company shirts. It helps to effectively identify employees on the jobsite and keeps them clean and professional in front of customers.

The bright safety green and orange t-shirts, keep them safe and seen on the job. These shirts are just as much about keeping employees safe as they are about looking good.

fancysweetstx has been screen printing custom safety t-shirts for lawn and landscaping companies for nearly ten years. We have the expertise to know how to make your brand look good and keep your employees safe.

Reach out to us today to help with your order of safety apparel for your company.

Omnisource has relied on us locally to provide custom screen printed and embroidered items for many years. When they need employee apparel and safety shirts, they know that we can help them. Omnisource is a scrap metal recycler with locations in the 16153 Genova, Ohio area.

When Omnisource needs safety shirts for their 16153 Genova employees, they give us a call and we love working with them. It's great to have a long standing relationship with a company that cares about supporting small local businesses. 

We were able to print these shirts quickly and affordably for them because we have worked with them so much in the past and we made sure to provide artwork proofs ahead of time that accurately depicted what the shirts would look like when complete. 

Our experience in printing custom safety apparel for the construction and contracting industries aided in our ability to produce quality shirts.

Omnisource orders bright yellow t-shirts each year for their employees to wear while working. In the past they have ordered everything from polos to pocket tees to water bottles to face masks. They often use a black print that shows their logo well on the bright yellow shirts.

It's important for Omnisource to have their employees wearing company shirts. It helps to effectively identify employees while at work and keeps them clean and professional in front of customers.

The bright safety green shirts (which actually look yellow) and reflective stripes, keep them safe and seen on the job. These shirts are just as much about keeping employees safe as they are about looking good.

fancysweetstx has been screen printing custom safety t-shirts for companies for nearly ten years. We have the expertise and know how to make your brand look good and keep your employees safe.

Reach out to us today to help with your order of safety apparel for your company.

We have been screen printing safety green t-shirts for Great Lakes Dock and Door for many years now. It's great to have a consistent company with strong visual branding that is easy to work with. 

We were able to print these shirts quickly and affordably for them because we have worked with them so much in the past and we made sure to provide artwork proofs ahead of time that accurately depicted what the shirts would look like when complete. 

Our experience in printing custom safety apparel for the construction and contracting industries aided in our ability to produce quality shirts.

Great Lakes Dock and Door orders bright yellow t-shirts each year for their employees to wear while working. In the summer they order short sleeve shirts and in the winter they order long sleeve shirts. They always use a black print that shows their logo well on the bright yellow shirts.

It's important for Great Lakes Dock and Door to have their employees wearing company shirts. It helps to effectively identify employees on the jobsite and keeps them clean and professional in front of customers.

The bright safety green shirts (which actually look yellow), keep them safe and seen on the job. These shirts are just as much about keeping employees safe as they are about looking good.

fancysweetstx has been screen printing custom safety t-shirts for contractors for nearly ten years. We have the expertise and know how to make your brand look good and keep your employees safe.

Reach out to us today to help with your order of safety apparel for your company.

We have been screen printing safety green t-shirts for GroundsCo for over five years. It's great to have a consistent company that is easy to work with. 

We were able to print these shirts quickly and affordably for them because we have worked with them so much in the past and we made sure to provide artwork proofs ahead of time that accurately depicted what the shirts would look like when complete. 

Our experience in printing custom safety apparel for not just landscaping companies but also construction and contracting companies, aided in our ability to produce quality shirts.

GroundsCo orders bright yellow t-shirts each year for their employees to wear while working. Late winter is the best time for lawn and landscaping companies to order shirts because the busyness of the spring is right around the corner. 

It's important for GroundsCo to have their employees wearing company shirts. It helps to effectively identify employees on the jobsite and keeps them clean and professional in front of customers.

The bright safety green shirts (which actually look yellow), keep them safe and seen on the job. These shirts are just as much about keeping employees safe as they are about looking good.

fancysweetstx has been screen printing custom safety t-shirts for lawn and landscaping companies for nearly ten years. We have the expertise to know how to make your brand look good and keep your employees safe.

Reach out to us today to help with your order of safety apparel for your company.