What PPE is required on a construction site under OSHA rules?

The employer must assess the hazards of each task and select suitable PPE under the applicable OSHA rules. Project contracts and site safety plans may add requirements. Confirm every garment, rating, and standard with the employer's safety lead before use.

Can company logos be embroidered or printed on PPE without voiding the rating?

Possibly. Decoration can affect protective performance, labels, and required visible areas. The employer and garment manufacturer must approve the materials, method, and placement for the exact product before decoration.

Does Nevada have additional PPE rules beyond federal OSHA?

Nevada operates an OSHA-approved state plan and has state-specific requirements. Nevada's heat illness regulation requires covered employers to evaluate occupational heat hazards and address identified hazards. Employers should use the current Nevada OSHA rule and guidance when building a program.

What hi-vis class is required for road and utility work?

The employer selects the performance class from the hazard assessment, project rules, traffic-control plan, and current ANSI/ISEA 107 product documentation. Do not choose a class from speed, shift, or job title alone.

What CAT rating do FR shirts need for electrical work?

The employer's electrical risk assessment determines the required arc rating and complete protective system. Voltage or job title alone does not establish the needed protection. Use current NFPA 70E guidance and the exact garment label.

Compliance

PPE and Branded Workwear Regulations for Construction Site Workers: A Las Vegas Field Guide

Use this guide to prepare questions for your safety lead. The employer's hazard assessment, current rules, and exact product documents control every selection.

Bighorn Threads Team12 min readMay 7, 2026

Construction crew wearing hi-vis apparel, hard hats, and branded work shirts

TL;DR

The employer's hazard assessment identifies the PPE needed for each task.
Electrical, flash-fire, roadway, and other hazards can require different product ratings and complete protective systems.
Nevada's heat illness regulation adds employer obligations when occupational heat hazards are present.
Decoration is not automatically acceptable. Obtain written approval for the exact garment, materials, method, and placement.

PPE selection depends on the task, workplace, and current safety plan. This educational guide organizes the questions to take to your employer and safety lead. It is not a substitute for a hazard assessment or current regulatory advice.

The OSHA Baseline (29 CFR 1926 Subpart E)

OSHA's construction rules place PPE selection and training duties on the employer. The exact requirements depend on the hazards present. Common review categories include:

Head protection: confirm the hazard, product type, class, and employer-approved model.
Eye and face protection: match the protection to the task and exposure.
Foot protection: confirm impact, compression, electrical, puncture, and other site requirements.
Hearing protection: follow the employer's exposure assessment and hearing conservation program.
High-visibility apparel: use the class selected by the employer. See the Class 2 vs Class 3 planning guide.

Trade-Specific PPE Layers

Electrical: NFPA 70E

Arc-rated clothing is one part of an employer-defined electrical protective system. The assessment must address the task and incident-energy exposure. Compare the required arc rating with the exact garment label. See our FR shirt planning guide and Bulwark options.

Oil, Gas, Refining: NFPA 2112

NFPA 2112 addresses garments intended to protect industrial personnel from short-duration thermal exposures from fire. The employer determines whether it applies. A dual-rated label does not replace separate flash-fire and electrical risk assessments.

Roadway and Utility: ANSI/ISEA 107

ANSI/ISEA 107 defines performance classes for high-visibility safety apparel. The employer selects the class from the hazard assessment and applicable work-zone requirements. Verify each product's current label before ordering.

Hand Protection (1926.95)

Hand protection must match the task. Cut, puncture, chemical, thermal, and electrical hazards can require different products. Do not decorate protective gloves without written manufacturer and employer approval.

Nevada-Specific: The 2026 Heat Illness Rule

Nevada operates an OSHA-approved state plan. Its heat illness regulation requires covered employers to evaluate working conditions that may cause occupational heat illness. Employers must address identified hazards under the current rule. Review the official Nevada OSHA resources and our educational heat guide.

Garment weight, fit, breathability, and layering can affect comfort in hot conditions. Those factors do not establish compliance or prevent heat illness. Compare employer-approved options and pair them with the employer's complete heat safety program.

Branding PPE: Questions Before Decoration

Some protective products may be decorated. Approval depends on the exact garment and current manufacturer instructions.

Hi-Vis (ANSI/ISEA 107)

Confirm the garment's required visible background and retroreflective areas.
Do not cover tape, labels, or required visible areas.
Use only employer-approved materials and placements permitted by the manufacturer.
Keep the current garment label and any documentation required by the employer.

FR / Arc-Rated (NFPA 70E and 2112)

Decoration can change a protective garment's performance. Do not assume that a thread, ink, patch, or placement is approved across brands.

Thread: confirm the permitted fiber and construction for the exact garment.
Printing: confirm the permitted ink system and application area.
Transfers and patches: obtain written approval for the materials, attachment method, and placement.
Documentation: ask what product and decoration records the employer requires.

See the NFPA 70E embroidery planning guide for questions to review with the employer and garment manufacturer.

Hard Hats (ANSI Z89.1)

Use only markings or decals permitted by the exact hard-hat manufacturer.
Do not apply unapproved paint, solvent, adhesive, or modification.
Keep required labels visible and follow the employer's inspection policy.

Standard Workwear (Non-Rated)

Non-rated workwear usually allows more decoration options. Employer policies, garment care, placement, and the selected production method still apply. Compare embroidery and screen printing after confirming the garment.

What Your Safety Officer Actually Checks

Ask the employer which records its safety program and contracts require. Examples may include:

Current product labels and manufacturer documents.
Written decoration approval for the exact garment.
Employee issue and training records.
Inspection, care, and retirement instructions.

A company-store program can organize an approved catalog and ordering rules. Recordkeeping, reporting, and fulfillment capabilities must be confirmed during setup.

By Trade: Questions for the Hazard Assessment

General contractors: identify traffic, falling-object, noise, eye, foot, and weather hazards.
Electrical contractors: document shock and arc-flash risks for each task.
Plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical: assess hot work, chemicals, energized equipment, and active traffic zones.
Roofing and solar: assess fall, electrical, heat, and sun exposure.
Data center contractors: follow the site plan and task-specific electrical requirements.
Concrete and masonry: assess noise, silica, chemical, hand, knee, eye, and foot hazards.
Landscaping: assess traffic, heat, noise, eye, chemical, and equipment hazards.

Where Decoration Programs Go Wrong

Two decoration risks deserve written review:

Unapproved materials on protective garments. Thread, backing, ink, adhesive, or patches may affect performance.
Decoration over required visible areas. A logo may reduce background or retroreflective area.

Your employer and garment manufacturer must approve the decoration method, materials, and placement. Bighorn coordinates the written requirements with the selected production partner. Documentation availability depends on the manufacturer and partner.

References (the standards themselves)

OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart E — Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment
ANSI/ISEA 107 — High-Visibility Safety Apparel
ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 — Industrial Head Protection
ANSI Z87.1 — Eye and Face Protection
ASTM F2413 — Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective Footwear
NFPA 70E — Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
NFPA 2112 — Standard on Flame-Resistant Clothing for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Short-Duration Thermal Exposures from Fire
Nevada OSHA — adopted federal standards plus state-specific heat illness prevention rule (2026)

Planning branded PPE for a crew?

Bighorn coordinates a current review of the exact protective garment, decoration, placement, and manufacturer instructions with the selected production partner. Talk to us about your program.

Request a PPE Program Quote