What Colour Hi Vis Should I Wear?

When it comes to Hi-Vis clothing, colour is paramount. This is crucial because the primary function of these garments is to enhance the visibility of the wearer, especially in hazardous areas where being overlooked can have serious consequences—for instance, on roads, railways, at airports, and in seaport settings.

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However, not all Hi-Vis apparel is equal. Whether you are an employer or an employee, understanding what various Hi-Vis colors signify and the appropriate circumstances for their use is essential. As a premier supplier of PPE, protective gears, and workwear, we simplify this information for you with our straightforward guide.

What Does Hi-Vis Entail?

The significance of wearing high-visibility clothing cannot be emphasized enough. Commonly referred to as hi vis or hi viz, these garments are a fundamental aspect of workplace attire across numerous industries. High visibility clothing is characterized by its bright, fluorescent colours like neon green, orange, and yellow that stand out against most backgrounds. The primary purpose behind wearing Hi-Vis is to enhance the visibility of the individual, thereby helping to avert potential accidents.

According to Chriss Carsello, an expert in Strategic Partnerships at CITY, many customers opt for high visibility gear for several reasons. "It serves as personal protective equipment (PPE) and often fulfills OHSA requirements. Clients want to ensure the safety and compliance of their workforce.” CITY offers a variety of garments that meet OHSA standards while providing employees with the comfort they desire.

Since its inception in the early 20th century, Hi-Vis clothing has evolved significantly and is now standardized. There are strict guidelines that these garments must adhere to, which are established by the International Safety Equipment Association.

We at CITY take customer safety seriously, providing high-quality garments that conform to international standards for high visibility [ANSI/ISEA 107-]. In environments like construction sites and other locations with moving vehicles, our Hi-Vis uniforms play a crucial role in ensuring that workers are easily visible against any backdrop.

Proactive measures are vital in any work environment, and wearing appropriate high visibility apparel significantly reduces potential accidents and fatalities, whether employees are near vehicular traffic or working in bustling industrial settings.

Moreover, Hi-Vis clothing offers managers a practical way to identify staff and authorized individuals in specific areas, particularly where access may be limited for safety or security reasons.

A Brief History of Hi-Vis

Bob Switzer invented high visibility clothing following an accident while unloading crates in Berkeley, California, which caused permanent damage to his eyesight, derailing his aspiration to become a physician. Fortunately, his brother Joe had been researching fluorescent chemicals, leading to the creation of early prototypes of reflective materials. Their first fluorescent paint was aptly named ‘Day-Glo’ as it allowed painted items to appear luminous in sunlight.

During World War II, reflective materials gained traction as the US Army utilized them to minimize incidents of friendly fire by enhancing soldiers' visibility, alongside using reflective fabric panels as signals to aircraft flying overhead.

Enhancing the observational distance of workers in poorly-lit conditions also significantly reduced workplace accidents.

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While the technology behind high visibility PPE has advanced, its core purpose remains—to promote safety for individual workers while lowering the likelihood of workplace injuries.

According to OSHA regulations, high visibility garments (strong red, orange, yellow, and yellow-green) must contrast sharply with surrounding colours to ensure wearers stand out. The clothing also needs to be reflective from all angles for a distance of 1,000 feet during nighttime.

The American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear outlines the criteria for performance in high visibility clothing, which includes background material, retroreflective material, and combined-performance material:

The background material features brightly coloured fluorescent fabric designed for high conspicuousness, although it does not meet retro-reflective requirements.

Retroflective material reflects a significant amount of light back toward the source.

Combined-performance material incorporates both retroreflective and fluorescent materials, contributing to minimum coverage area requirements.

Why Opt for CITY Hi-Vis?

With an increased range of high visibility apparel recently available, the process isn't merely about ordering any Hi-Vis marked garments online. Every specific situation has distinct requirements, and different colours serve better in various settings. Furthermore, proper garment fit is crucial, allowing ease of movement.

As noted by Andrew Scherz in Safety and Health Magazine, "In confined spaces or high-risk environments, loose or ill-fitting clothing can snag, leading to potential harm. Discomfort caused by poorly fitting reflective attire can hinder performance, elevating the risk of injuries." A one-size-fits-all strategy can also create issues. Workers may turn to alternatives that might be too tight, oversized, or unsuitable for the environment, escalating safety concerns and risk of injuries.

The experts at CITY ensure that your team is correctly fitted and that you select optimal colours and materials, guaranteeing your employees remain comfortable and protected while on duty.

Generally, it’s advised to renew Hi-Vis gear after 25 washes to maintain visibility quality. With CITY's UHF chip technology, we can conveniently monitor the wash count of a garment and replace it before its visibility declines. Special care instructions can prolong the lifespan of high visibility clothing. Our uniform rental service eliminates uncertainties, as CITY conducts thorough research on all garments we supply to ensure you receive properly maintained items, saving precious time and money.

“Cost is essential, but it should only be a consideration after ensuring risks are mitigated,” said Colin Wetlaufer, President of CITY.

Invest in top-quality Hi-Vis garments to prioritize the safety of your team with CITY.

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