In many different industries, hi vis clothing is an essential part of personal protection equipment (PPE). Whether you work on a building site, in logistics, or in engineering, high visibility clothing makes you more visible in every situation and protects you from risks like moving vehicles and heavy machinery in poor light.
In this article, we'll go through all you need to know about hi vis clothing, from all of the options available to how they meet safety standards. Also, we'll go over how custom printing and embroidery can turn your workwear into a branding opportunity for your company.
There are multiple options for high visibility clothes. Depending on the environment where you work, every type has specific benefits.
Vests are the most common and cost-effective hi vis garment, as they are lightweight and easy to layer over other clothes. They're ideal for warm conditions or when workers need to quickly change. Hi vis vests are available in a range of classes, which we will cover later.
For colder environments, hi vis jackets, including parkas, bomber jackets, and softshells, provide both visibility and warmth. They’re designed to keep you safe and comfortable, especially in harsh weather conditions.
Hi vis hoodies offer a great blend of comfort and safety. They’re popular in cooler weather and are often chosen for their casual style and warmth.
Ideal for warmer conditions, these garments are lightweight and breathable while still meeting the required visibility standards. Hi vis polo shirts are often perfectly suited to embroidering your branding to your workwear, giving your company visibility both on and off-site.
While it’s easy to focus on the upper body, ensuring your lower body is visible is just as important. Hi vis trousers and overalls offer full-body protection and are essential for workers exposed to moving vehicles or heavy equipment.
In chilly environments where a full jacket may not be needed, bodywarmers and gilets provide lightweight warmth while keeping workers arms free to move. Custo m embroidery is a great option for branding these garments.
Hi vis clothing makes workers easily visible in conditions where safety is a priority. Fluorescent materials and reflective strips help workers stand out, whether it’s a dark evening on a construction site or a foggy morning in a logistics yard. Visibility reduces accidents, making hi vis gear an essential part of PPE.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 135 fatal injuries in British workplaces in 2022/23, and 561,000 workers sustained a self-reported non-fatal injury in the workplace during the same period. A considerable percentage of those were caused by being struck by moving vehicles or heavy machinery. Many of these incidents may have been prevented if employees had been more visible to drivers and operators.
Further studies suggest that wearing hi vis clothing can reduce accident rates by up to 30% in high-risk environments such as roadworks and construction sites . For workers operating at night or in low-light conditions, the use of fluorescent materials combined with reflective strips is essential to ensuring they are seen from a distance, preventing accidents and fatalities.
Visibility is particularly critical in environments where there’s high traffic from forklifts, cranes, or trucks. Ensuring that workers are wearing the correct hi vis clothing means they can be seen by drivers early enough for the vehicle to stop safely.
EN ISO 20471 is the key standard governing high visibility clothing in the UK and Europe. It sets out the requirements for both the fluorescent material and the retro-reflective strips to ensure workers are visible in both daylight and low-light conditions.
The standard specifies the type and amount of fluorescent material that must be used in a garment. This material enhances visibility during daylight hours or in areas with artificial lighting. There are three approved colours: yellow, orange, and red.
Any other colours do not comply with EN ISO 20471.
In addition to the fluorescent fabric, retro-reflective strips are a key part of hi vis clothing. These strips reflect light back towards the source, making the wearer visible in low-light or night-time conditions. For compliance:
The placement of this tape is essential. It must be positioned such that it outlines the human form, keeping the worker visible and reflective from all sides. For instance, Class 3 garments must include reflective tape on both the torso and the sleeves or trousers to provide compliant visibility.
The standard also defines the minimum areas of fluorescent material required for compliance based on the class of the garment:
When choosing hi is clothing for your workforce, always conduct a risk assessment to determine the appropriate class of garment.
Hi vis clothing isn’t just about safety—it’s also a great opportunity to build brand awareness. Custom printing allows you to add your company’s logo to your hi vis garments, so workers become walking advertisements for your business.
Whether it’s a hi vis vest, t-shirt, or hoodie, custom branding ensures your team is instantly recognisable, even at a distance.
When adding custom logos or designs to hi vis clothing, it’s important to keep EN ISO 20471 compliance in mind. Large logos can cover significant areas of the fluorescent fabric, reducing the total amount of visible high-visibility material. For example, if a logo takes up 0.10 m² on a Class 2 vest, the total fluorescent area could drop below the 0.50 m² required by the standard, making the garment non-compliant.
To avoid this issue, it's recommended that logos be placed on non-critical areas of the garment, such as contrast panels, or are designed with the background colour in mind so they won’t interfere with the required visibility.
Working with a trusted supplier like XAMAX®, which understands both branding and hi vis compliance, ensures that your customisations don’t compromise safety.
Assuming you take our advice, that is.
While large printed logos may look impressive, it’s crucial to balance branding with safety. The most effective way to customise hi vis clothing is to add your logo in a way that maintains the required surface area of fluorescent and reflective materials.
Consider working with your supplier to ensure that your logo placement doesn’t affect the garment’s ability to keep workers safe.
For garments like polo shirts and softshell jackets, embroidery is another option. Embroidery can be placed in strategic locations that don’t interfere with the visibility of the hi vis material, allowing you to maintain compliance while still showcasing your brand.
We’ll send a PDF mockup so you can be sure it’s just what you need before you place an order
Hi Vis clothing doesn't last forever, so knowing when to replace it is essential to maintaining safety compliance. Hi vis fabrics fade due to regular washing, UV exposure, or regular wear and tear. Be on lookout for fading fluorescent colours, fragmented reflective tape, or torn fabric. These all suggest that it's time for a replacement.
As a general rule, replace hi vis clothes after about 25 washes, or sooner if they show obvious signs of deterioration. Portwest offer garments that can withstand 50 washes, so if longevity is your goal, look towards that brand.
In all cases, you should follow the care instructions that come with the garment.
At XAMAX®, we value your safety. As a BSIF (British Safety Industry Federation) Registered Supplier, we ensure that all of our high-visibility clothing meets the highest standards of safety, including EN ISO 20471. Whether you need vests, jackets, hoodies, or trousers, we have you covered with high-quality, compliant hi vis workwear.
We provide a wide range of high-quality workwear solutions, from hi vis clothing to other essential safety gear. As a BSIF Registered Supplier, we ensure all our products meet industry standards. Visit the XAMAX® homepage to explore our full range of workwear.
Hi vis clothing isn’t just about meeting safety standards; it’s about protecting your team while promoting your business. By choosing the right type of hi vis clothing for your work environment and customising it with printing or embroidery, you can keep your workforce safe and visible while increasing your company’s presence on-site.
For reliable, compliant hi vis clothing, trust XAMAX® to provide the best solutions for your team’s safety and branding needs.
