When it comes to HVSA, high quality shouldn’t be a bonus, it should be the baseline.

Type O Trim – that now-ubiquitous yellow-silver-yellow with 1″ silver reflective staple became the go-to workhorse of the offroad HVSA world of work over the past decade for a simple reason: It’s not flashy, it’s not trendy, it just works. Really, really well.

That’s why it’s seen everywhere now – on loader drivers working construction sites to warehouse distribution centers to industrial manufacturing floors.

Let’s take a look at how and why.

Type O trim starts where the road stops.

Type O was ANSI/ISEA’s answer to a growing blind spot in worker safety, one that didn’t involve traffic.

As a quick HVSA refresher, you know that ANSI/ISEA 107 sets the standards for high-vis apparel in the U.S., and breaks garments down into three main categories:

• Type R (Roadway)
• Type P (Public Safety)
• Type O (Off-Road)

Back in 2015, ANSI introduced the Type O classification to cover workers operating in non-roadway environments. In addition to those industries mentioned earlier, this includes workers in logistics hubs, airport ground staff, mining crews, oil and gas – a long list of jobs where constantly moving equipment and low-light conditions create real risk, even if there’s not a car or highway in sight.

At the center of Type O compliance is the 1″ yellow-silver-yellow (YSY) reflective trim.

As the basis for the visual architecture of safety, the bright yellow edges catch peripheral attention while the silver core delivers high reflectivity in low light. The 1″ width meets the minimum for recognition, even in cluttered or visually noisy environments. It’s purpose-built for areas where vehicles move fast, visibility can change very quickly, and safety relies on recognition from a distance.

It’s so common now that, ironically, you may not even notice it anymore. Except when you need to.

How Type O became mainstream.

Since the ANSI update came into effect, Type O gear has gone from regulatory notice to front-line necessity. The reasons:

• According to Global Market Insights, the high-visibility clothing market hit $1.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to nearly $2.9 billion by 2032, which translates to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. And Type O trim garments make up over 45% of that market share, as off-road safety gains priority and enforcement across industries.
• More employers are taking OSHA compliance more seriously, recognizing that forklift lanes, low-visibility loading docks, and shift changes in poorly lit warehouses all create the kind of serious risk that Type O 1″ YSY trim meets, thanks to ANSI standards specifically for those hazards.
• Workers don’t want to wear reflective HVSA that’s stiff, hot, and uncomfortable for long shifts in tough conditions – think old-school boxy vests, stiff trim, one-size-doesn’t-fit-anyone gear. Modern Type O trim gear now includes lighter fabrics, moisture-wicking, and trim that bends, breathes, and doesn’t peel after the first wash.

And some of the best-performing Type O trim, like Safe Reflections’, is built around that ever-reliable 1″ yellow-silver-yellow configuration.

Type O vs. Type 0

Like this subhead, to casual observers it can be hard to immediately spot the differences between true high-quality Type O trim and noncompliant knock-offs. But they’re there, and they are potentially life threatening.

In other words, not all YSY trim is created equal, and just because it looks like 1″ YSY doesn’t mean it has the necessary qualities, properties or durability.

Rising demand has opened the floodgates of low-cost, non-compliant imports that look like they meet ANSI standards, but fail miserably under testing. Worse, they fail under use, putting both workers and companies at serious risk. You’ve no doubt seen online this lookalike gear that, superficially at least, has all the right stripes in all the right places. The prices are cheap, but then, so is the quality: manufacturers cutting corners with substandard materials, questionable stitching, and reflective tape that breaks down or unglues as soon as it’s put on.

At Safe Reflections, our goal is simple: to make sure everyone goes home safe. That’s why we hold our trims to the highest levels of compliance and quality, with industry-leading 1″ YSY trim that eclipses reflectivity thresholds, survives repeated wash cycles, and exceeds ANSI 107 verification – with data to back it up and certification that matters.

Here’s one great reason to invest in top-quality Type O trim: in high-activity, off-road environments, PPE doesn’t get treated gently. Fraying edges, reduced reflectivity from abrasion, and sweat or other heat-related conditions all work to break down gear. That’s why reputable manufacturers like us are compelled to build trim that lasts.

It’s the difference between checking a box and actually protecting a person.

What’s next in Type O trim?

Our focus on quality is going to put us ahead of the curve as ANSI 107-2025 prepares to raise the bar even higher on durability and labeling standards in the next set of revisions.

Here’s what to expect:

• Tighter requirements for labeling and trim durability: Trim will need to maintain legibility and reflectivity even after repeated laundering.
• More rigorous testing protocols: Expect broader adoption of real-world scenario tests and more emphasis on performance over time, not just at point-of-sale (e.g., simulated abrasion, sweat exposure).
• Greater clarity on layout and patterning: Including the configuration and contrast of yellow-silver-yellow layouts.

When it comes to regulatory compliance, we’re not sitting around waiting for directives. SRI is proactively investing in durable trim adhesion methods and stitching configurations designed to minimize separation and maintain integrity even in high-wear zones.

Compliance is getting more specific. And the gear that’s already meeting or exceeding the next generation of standards (like ours) and performs flawlessly under real-world wear and stress, is going to be the gear people trust first.

Bottom line

1″ yellow-silver-yellow Type O trim may be designed for “off-road” work, but it’s definitely an industry bright spot. Whether at a distribution center, municipality, utility center or anywhere else, the right trim is the difference between seen and safe, and not.

With proven performance, tested durability, and compliance-ready design, SRI’s Type O Trim products are setting the industry standard. So if you’re sourcing Type O PPE, here’s the bottom line:

• Don’t settle for lookalikes. Make sure your Type O Trim is certified ANSI compliant, not just “high-vis looking.”
• Ask questions about trim specs: width, reflectivity rating, wash cycle resistance.
• Look for durability and comfort, because if workers don’t wear it, it’s not doing its job.

See the difference our trim can make

When it comes to HVSA, high quality shouldn’t be a bonus, it should be the baseline.That means Type O trim that lasts, visibility that performs, and components that hold up in the real world, not just on the SDS. Let us show you how “good enough” isn’t “safe enough” – talk to an expert or ask us about reflective samples.