Hi-Vis Workwear

Wear the correct hi-vis workwear to stay safe and visible while working on-site. Here we answer a few FAQs about hi-vis clothing to ensure you have the right safety gear.

What is hi-vis?

Hi-vis clothing (short for high-visibility) is any clothing with luminescent properties and reflective materials that reflects light and helps others to see you in any low-level light.

What colour hi-vis should I wear?

Orange, red and yellow are the only three colours that meet the standard for daytime hi-visibility. People often use yellow indoors as it is a bright colour, and you can see it in low-level light.

Who wears orange hi-vis?

Although you can find orange hi-vis on building sites, all rail workers wear orange hi-vis clothing because rail workers often work in green environments, and fluorescent orange would be more visible than yellow. Colours like pink, green, red and blue don't classify as regulation safety hi-vis as you can't use them in industrial or construction environments. Even two-tone hi-vis clothing only offers class 1 protection. So to stay safe on-site, ensure that you keep to the required regulations of your trade.

What are hi-vis jackets/vests made from?

The reflective stripes are micro-prismatic tape or glass bead reflective tape. Most micro-prismatic tape contains plastic vinyl, containing countless micro-prisms that reflect light. However, glass bead reflective tape is the more common and cheaper material. It will provide a wider angle or reflection but doesn't travel as far. The rest of the coloured vest is usually polyester.

When is hi-vis required?

Hi-vis workwear is essential to keep workers safe when working near traffic, heavy machinery like cranes or forklifts and construction zones in day or night settings. Whenever there is a risk to safety, for example, on a railway work site, they require orange hi-vis clothing. Browse our women's and men's hi-vis workwear at Build & Plumb.