In conjunction with PPE, what class of safety vest is required to work at a roadway incident?

• A. Class 1
• B. Class 2
• C. Class 3
• D. Class 4

Answer: (B)

When people are working at a roadway incident, being easily seen by drivers is essential for safety. High-visibility apparel is categorized by classes that indicate how conspicuous a worker will be in traffic environments. Class 2 provides a strong level of visibility with bright background colors and substantial reflective material, making you highly noticeable on typical roadways and in various lighting conditions while still allowing comfortable movement and compatibility with other protective gear. This level of conspicuity is designed for work near moving traffic or in scenes with moderate speed and complex backgrounds, which is exactly the situation at many roadway incidents when combined with PPE such as helmets, turnout gear, and gloves.

Class 3 offers the highest visibility and is reserved for the most demanding conditions—very high-speed traffic, complex backgrounds, or when workers are in positions where drivers may have limited time to react. Class 1, by comparison, provides the least visibility and would not meet the safety needs of most roadway incident operations. So, wearing a Class 2 vest alongside your PPE strikes the right balance of visibility and practicality for typical roadway incidents.