High Visibility Clothing

A Guide To High Visibility Clothing

The following explains what high visibility clothing is, why it is needed and what you should look out for when purchasing it for your staff.

What is high visibility clothing?

High visibility clothing refers to garments which have highly reflective qualities, making them stand out against any background. This means that workers can be seen clearly by others at all times.

What industries require workers to wear high visibility clothing?

High visibility clothing is necessary for organisations whose staff work outdoors in potentially hazardous situations, where people may struggle to see them due to poor lighting or weather conditions. Specifically, some of the professions which are required to wear high visibility clothing are as follows:

• Construction workers

Paramedics
Firefighters
First Aid staff
Parking attendants
Rail workers
Surveyors
Police
Film and TV crews
Airport staff

Health and Safety Guidelines

For most businesses, the health and safety executive dictates that all workers in a low-visibility environment must wear high visibility clothing at all times. Employers have a responsibility to provide these garments free of charge and make sure that they are properly stored and maintained.

Types of high visibility clothing

High visibility clothing commonly consists of a simple jacket, which is worn over the top of work clothing. In addition, a more versatile range of clothing has become available, which will ensure that individuals are as visible as possible.

This includes:

• High visibility jackets and bodywarmers
• High visibility polos and t shirts
• High visibility sweatshirts and fleeces
• High visibility vests
• High visibility bags
• High visibility trousers
• High visibility coveralls

Things to consider when choosing high visibility clothing

Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (1992) employers have a responsibility to consider a number of factors when choosing the correct high visibility clothing for their employees.

The following are just some of these considerations:

Is it fit for purpose - High visibility clothing should be suitable for the worker and their working environment. This includes considerations such as ensuring that loose fitting jackets do not pose a threat to workers by snagging on moving machinery.

Is it suitable for the worker - High visibility clothing should be properly fitted and comfortable for the worker to wear. It should also compliment the worker’s other clothing and allow them as much freedom of movement as possible.

High visibility clothing standards

There are a number of standards which high visibility clothing should match up to, in order to be compliant with health and safety guidelines.

The new British Standard for high visibility clothing is BS EN 471, a harmonised European standard. When buying high visibility clothing, you should make sure that the product has this accreditation, as well as the standard ‘CE’ mark, which indicates that it meets up to European safety standards.

Here at Xamax, all of our high visibility clothing conforms to these standards meaning that your business is fully compliant with all of the relevant health and safety guidelines.

Branded high visibility clothing

Our high visibility clothing can be fully branded with your companies name and logo. This can ensure that not only are you protecting your workers, but you are also gaining some valuable exposure for your company.