High-visibility clothing, sometimes called “hi-vis,” is any clothing worn with highly reflective properties or colours easily discernible from any background. Everyday items of high-visibility clothing include vests, jackets, shirts, hats, and gloves. Mainly, high vis workwear is worn by construction workers, police officers, firefighters, traffic controllers, and cyclists.
The purpose of high-visibility clothing is to make the wearer more visible to others, especially in low-light conditions or when there is poor visibility due to weather conditions. High-visibility clothing increases the chance that the wearer will be seen by others and can help prevent accidents.
There are different standards for high-visibility clothing depending on the country and the type of work being done. For example, in the United States, there is a voluntary standard for high-visibility clothing that many employers use. This standard specifies the minimum amount of reflective material required to be considered high-visibility.
In Europe, there is a standard for high-visibility clothing that all workers must meet if they work in certain situations. This standard includes both reflective materials and fluorescent colours.
High-visibility clothing is not a guarantee of safety, but it can help to increase the chances of being seen by others and avoid accidents. When working in low-light conditions or with poor visibility, it is essential to wear high-visibility clothing and to be aware of your surroundings.
For many industries, high-visibility workwear is a necessity. This type of clothing helps workers stay safe by making them more visible to others in the area. Here are seven industries that often require high-visibility workwear:
- Construction
Whether working on a new building site or doing repairs on the side of the road, construction workers must be visible to both motorists and pedestrians. High visibility workwear helps them stay safe while they’re working.
- Manufacturing
From assembly line workers to those operating machinery, many people in manufacturing need to be visible to others in the area. Wearing high-visibility clothing helps keep everyone safe.
- Transportation
From bus drivers to airport ground crew, many people in the transportation industry need to be visible to others. High visibility workwear helps them stay safe while they’re working.
- Utilities
From power plant workers to those who work on electrical lines, many people in the utility industry need to be visible to others. Wearing high vis workwear helps keep everyone safe.
- Emergency Services
From police officers to firefighters, many people in the emergency services need to be visible to others. High visibility workwear helps them stay safe while they’re working.
- Automobiles
Regarding safety on the job, few industries are as demanding as the automotive industry. Employees in this sector need to be able to rely on their workwear to protect them from a variety of hazards, including exposure to high temperatures, chemicals, and moving machinery.
- Oil and Gas
High visibility workwear plays an essential role in the oil and gas industry, helping ensure workers’ safety in potentially hazardous environments. Various high-visibility garments are available, each designed to meet specific needs. For example, some garments may feature reflective strips or bright colours to make workers more visible in low-light conditions. In contrast, others may be waterproof or flame-resistant to protect against potential hazards. Selecting the fitting garment for the job is essential to ensuring worker safety.
These are just a few of the industries that often require high-visibility workwear. If you work in one of these industries, it’s essential to make sure you have the correct type of clothing to stay safe.