Everyone wants to work in a secure and protected environment. Keeping the workplace safe is a moral responsibility and a duty to all employers and employees. Every company should recognise the potential risks and dangers of the working environment and take the necessary safety percussions. Employees need to be aware of their surroundings, reduce workplace stress, learn how to use tools and machinery properly, give updates on potentially unsafe and dangerous working conditions, and most importantly, wear the right safety equipment.
What Is Hi-Vis Clothing?
High-visibility clothing is essential workwear to keep workers safe while around heavy equipment or moving vehicles. This asset will help you be visible to everyone, even farther away, whether you’re on a construction site or in the middle of the road. It’s a simple but effective way for people to avoid accidents. This clothing is made from rugged and waterproof materials such as polyester and vinyl. It’s always in bright fluorescent colours like red, green, yellow and orange.
These colours shine in dark backgrounds or poor lighting conditions because they lack the greying effect that the other colours tend to have. Our eyes are more sensitive to them, and the brain receives the information faster that there is someone or something within your horizon. Some clothes even have additional reflective strips for more prominent visibility. At least 40% of the hi-vis clothing needs to be reflective in the back and the front, ensuring the safety of the workers from all angles.
Who Needs High-Visibility Clothing?
Many people are obliged to wear high-visibility clothing, and many choose to do so to protect themselves. Every country has similar work safety equipment standards that must be respected, and employers need to abide by them. Some of the people who should gear up with high-quality hi vis wear include:
- Truck drivers;
- Road workers;
- Construction workers;
- Railway staff;
- Police officers;
- Security guards;
- Electric and utility workers;
- Fire department personnel;
- Warehouse workers;
- Airport crews;
- Emergency response teams.
All of these people need to have the proper safety equipment. Their jobs are filled with potential hazards, and to prevent them from happening, they need to be visible to everyone around.
What Clothes Are Hi-Vis?
Just like suitable PPE, good hi-vis clothing is something you must have. The jacket is one of the most popular hi vis wear with the same benefits as the others. It covers a large surface of your body, making you visible from a distance. It often comes with built-in pockets to store your items or tools like wrenches, flashlights or nails. These jackets are made from heavy-duty materials that can stand up to rain and wind. They can come in the shape of long or short-sleeved styles, waistcoats and jackets with hoods.
A good replacement for the jacket is a vest. It will give you the necessary visibility and make you feel more comfortable without covering your arms. They are lightweight and protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Hi-vis shirts are also a good choice. They’re comfortable and provide a sense of safety. They can be with long or short sleeves, are waterproof, and hoods are always optional. You can wear them on your own or combine them with other reflective wear.
Hi-vis shirts usually go together with a pair of pants with reflective tape to keep you safe and visible in your workplace. They can have zippers on the side for more comfort and pockets for practicality. There are three classes of hi-vis workwear. Class 1 have minimum visibility because they have the least reflective materials. These clothes are worn by warehouse workers and workers who collect shopping carts at parking lots. Reflective vests and shirts fall into this category.
Class 2 reflective wear offers more visibility. They are long-sleeved or short-sleeved garments that don’t have a reflective tape. Class 3 is the optimal hi-vis reflective clothing. They have long sleeves and reflective tape to make the workers as visible as possible. People who work on motorways or around traffic and construction sites often wear these clothes.
How to Choose Hi-Vis Clothes?
Choosing the right reflective clothing is very important. You’ll need to take a few key factors into consideration. Think about the weather conditions, if you get in touch with rain a lot, you’ll have to get clothes with waterproof layers. If you’re on the open a lot, a heavy-duty jacket that can withstand strong winds is necessary. And if you work with snow and ice, a well-insulated jacket and pants will be perfect.
Always go for a suitable size. If the clothes are too tight or too big, they can be a distraction and cause accidents and injuries. Keep an eye on the condition of the clothing. It always has to be wearable and without any damage. Check for holes and tears and replace them as soon as possible. Always wear tight-fitting clothes underneath because loose wear can tangle into machines and cause a nasty accident. Plus, they’ll make you less visible to others.
Another important thing to remember is not to wear jewellery. It can get stuck into machines, hurt you while working, and cause injuries. Don’t try to save money when buying hi-vis clothes. Investing in good quality safety wear is not a luxury; it’s caring for you and your life. So don’t pick something with lower quality just because you can save $10-$20 on the way.
