5 FAQs About High Visibility Clothing
Various work conditions require workers to wear high visibility clothing. Maybe you’ve just got a new job that requires you to wear high visibility clothing. Whatever the case is, you suddenly have reason to be curious & ask — what exactly is high visibility workwear clothing?
In this article, we will discuss the most frequently asked questions about high visibility workwear clothing.
What is Hi-Vis?
Hi-Vis is a term used for high visibility referring to the clothing that has reflective properties & is made up of fluorescent materials & colors, which makes them easily noticeable from any background. Hi-vis clothing is typically worn by workers working at construction sites, on roadways & other industrial sites to avoid incidents that involve the use of large vehicles or equipment.
What is the difference between Class 2 & Class 3 Hi-Vis safety vests?
Class Hi-Vis vests are for workers working in heavier traffic where driver’s visibility is poor due to weather. A minimum of 201 sq inches of reflective tape, which is 2 inches in diameter, is required for a Class 2 Hi-Vis safety vest. Reflective strips should be over the shoulders & round in the middle with horizontal stripes. If we talk about the Class 3 vests, they are for high traffic incidents & often first or emergency responders. When you’re working in a condition where traffic is over 50 miles per hour, you will need a Class 3 Hi-Vis vest with a minimum of 310 sq inches of reflective tape, which is 2 inches thick. Class 3 Hi-Vis safety vest also provides more arm & leg visibility coverage.
What are the Benefits of Hi-Vis Clothes?
There are many benefits of Hi-Vis safety clothing, some of them are:
They make employees highly visible: Hi-Vis clothing differentiates wearers from the environment & gives them more opportunity to see them. This protects workers from oncoming traffic.
They promote a safe environment: Nowadays, providing a safe work environment should be the priority of any business firm. When a worker feels safe at their workplace, they tend to be more productive. Investing in Hi-Vis workwear clothing would benefit any business tremendously.
They reduce the risk of an accident: Most workplace accidents occur because of the incapability of drivers to properly see the onsite workers due to improper lighting & similar reasons. Hi-Vis clothing provides great visibility to vehicle operators. Thus, the chances of accidents decrease automatically.
Other than the transportation industry, Hi-Vis clothing is used by construction workers, emergency service providers, school crossing guards, parking lot attendants, utility workers, warehouse workers, shipyard workers & many more.
What should you keep in mind while using Hi-Vis Safety Clothing?
Those who wear Hi-Vis safety clothing at work must know the following points:
- Fluorescent clothes are most appropriate for dark conditions
- For maximum visibility, use full-body coverage clothes
- To enhance the visibility of the wearer in motion, using contrast stripes on arms & legs will be helpful
- Don’t wear any other garments on these Hi-Vis clothes
- Wear Hi-Vis clothes that are specific for your work site & the type of work.
How to take care of Hi-Vis Clothing?
- It is always better to wash them inside out in cold water with similar colors. This helps to preserve the reflective material on the outside. Washing them with a reflective side outside can cause the reflective tape to wear out more easily, leading to fading & eventual tears in the material.
- Hi-Vis safety vests are a bit different. The mesh material of this apparel can wear out in the washer, so it is better to soak them in neutral laundry detergent dissolved in cold water. Let your vest stand in the dissolved detergent for about half an hour. This will help stains & other particularly soiled spots to brush out.
- Remember, if you are not seen, you are not safe! That’s why it is important to keep replacing your hi-vis clothing regularly. If your apparel isn’t visible from 1,000 feet away at any time of the day or night, it’s time to replace it!
- When worn daily, most Hi-Vis clothing will last for about six months before becoming ineffective. When worn less often than that, these clothing items can last up to one year.
We hope this information will help you make an educated choice when it comes to Hi-Vis clothing!
