When it comes to safety, being seen is crucial. That’s where Hi-Viz, short for High Visibility, comes in. This category of PPE and workwear is designed to make you easily discernible from any background and highly reflective.
Why is this important? Well, Hi-Viz ensures that you are quickly and easily seen by your fellow workers, especially those operating vehicles or large moving equipment on a worksite or road.
Fluorescent yellow-green and orange are the go-to colors for hi-viz, as they are most visible to the human eye and perform well in all lighting conditions. These colors are the only approved ones for hi-viz apparel because they are less prone to “graying” than others. Not all colors are suitable for all environments. Consider an environment with a lot of foliage, lime-green might get lost against the green of the plant-life. Orange is better suited for these environments.
But there’s more to Hi-Viz than just color. It also features reflective striping, which boosts visibility by bouncing back light. An H or X shape of taping is most common on garments. And for the ultimate in safety, contrasting tape is added to garments, with orange on lime garments and lime on orange garments. This ensures that the highest safety standards are met.
Did you know that fatal work-related injuries at roadway construction sites average 123 worker deaths per year? And that’s not even counting the countless injuries from work zone or machinery-related accidents. That’s why OSHA mandates that all workers in highway maintenance jobs, road construction work zones, and public-access roadways wear high-visibility clothing. This mandate includes all workers, including construction, maintenance, utility, emergency/incident responders, and volunteers operating on or near any public-access roadways to wear high-visibility clothing. While not federaly required, Hi-Viz is also utilized at airports, warehouses and other general construction.
And it’s not just for work. Hi-Viz is also the go-to choice for runners, bikers, and anyone who wants to be visible in low-light conditions.
To make it easier to choose the right Hi-Viz gear, ANSI provides guidance on proper attire and equipment. ANSI-compliant hi-vis apparel must have a balanced design, with at least 40% reflective and background material on both the front and back. This ensures visibility from all angles.
ANSI-rated hi-vis also has 3 performances classes
- Roadway (R) – daytime/nighttime visual enhancements, ideal for those working near roadways
- Off-Road (O) – moderate visibility, ideal for offroad workers
- Public Safety (P) – often worn by public safety officials, like police and EMT
In addition, ANSI distinguishes hi-vis apparel by class.
- Class 1 is suitable for low-risk workers
- Class 2 offers additional visibility for longer distances
- Class 3 provides the greatest visibility, even in complex backgrounds
- Class E garments do not meet ANSI safety requirements when worn alone but when worn with a class 2 or 3 garment, the overall ensemble meets a class 3 standards.
Another thing to note is that you can obtain Class 3 compliance in one of two ways with the first being obvious: wear a Class 3 compliant garment (a fluorescent shirt or a jacket with reflective tape on the sleeves). But you can also take a Class 2 garment like a vest and pair it with Class E compliant bottoms for full Class 3 compliance. Class E is a supplemental class of garments, like pants, leg gaiters, class E vests.
For workers who deal with grease and dirt, a Black series should be considered. The black parts of these garments hide stains, keeping the hi-viz areas clean and intact while offering a stylish appearance.
Remember, proper care is essential for Hi-Viz. Any heavy stains, rips, or cracks that compromise reflectiveness mean it’s time for a replacement. And after 25 washes, it’s recommended to get a new garment as the reflective colors may fade.
Browse our Hi-Viz products HERE.
Learn more about Hi-Viz by watching our webinar on “Hi-Viz for Construction and Contractors” HERE.
Learn more about Womens Hi-Viz by watching our webinar on “Hi-Viz Apparel for and PPE – Built for Women” HERE.
Read on about other types of protective workwear like: coveralls and fire retardant workwear.
