Tag: hivis workwear
6 Key Reasons to Invest in High Visibility Clothing
The most important thing that every business needs to do is provide a safe workplace for their employees. Businesses that have employees who are on the road for extended periods of time or employees working in low light conditions must invest in high visibility clothing. High visibility clothing helps keep workers safe on the job and keeps others in the same premises aware of their existence, which can help prevent accidents. There are many reasons why investing in high visibility safety gear for your employees is worth the investment, in this blog will talk about the five most significant ones but before that, let’s take a quick look at why high visibility clothing is important.
Why is High Visibility Clothing Important?
High visibility clothing is important because it helps people to be seen in low-light conditions. In situations where a person needs help but cannot find the way out of their situation, high-visibility clothing would have made them more visible. High visibility safety wear also makes workers safer by increasing the probability that drivers can see them as they work near highways or large outdoor construction sites. Indeed, there are many reasons why businesses should invest in these clothes for their employees so that they may promote an increase in safety among their staff members and others who might need assistance at some point during the day.
Key Reasons Why Businesses Should Invest in High Visibility Clothing
1. Safety
High visibility clothing is designed to stand out to motorists and pedestrians so your workers can be seen on the job or while walking at night. High visibility clothing also provides a safety measure to protect the workers who wear them. For example, construction sites and building sites are often poorly lit after dark. If you’re working on these sites or walking in those areas at night, high-visibility clothes can help motorists see you so they don’t accidentally hit you while you’re working.
2. Employer Liability
An employer has legal responsibility for any incidents which result from injuries incurred while employees are performing their job duties – including accidents happening to employees on the way to work. Thus, with high visibility clothing, you can significantly protect your workers from potential on-site accidents.
3. Safety Regulatory Standards
Another reason to invest in high visibility clothing is that it can help you comply with safety regulatory standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a specific standard that requires employers to provide their employees with protective equipment for hazardous jobs, including apparel that makes them visible while working.
4. Cost Savings
An average personal injury claim as per industry is around $30,000, apart from the medical expenses related to an accident. Investing in safety gear such as high visibility clothing reduces this sum significantly.
5. Company’s Public Image
The company’s public persona can both be positively and negatively affected by an accident that results in a personal injury claim against them. This may also lead to disruptions, lawsuits, or even bankruptcy, depending on the severity of the accident which resulted from their negligence.
6. Worker Convenience
High visibility clothes help make job sites safer without affecting worker productivity or comfort levels. These garments do not restrict movement and allow maximal protection against potential accidents.
Ending Note
A business should pay attention to investing in high visibility clothing: There are many benefits business owners don’t realize while investing in high visibility safety apparel. First, these garments help keep their employees safe (from being hit by vehicles on the road, machinery operating in the same premise where they’re working), increase the visibility of workers on-site (so they don’t get run over or injured) as well as reduce liability for any accidents that may happen. Thus, High-visibility products are not only practical but also provide significant protection for both drivers and pedestrians.
Understanding the Importance of Wearing Hi-Vis Clothing in the Workplace
Safety must be the topmost priority when it comes to working in an environment where you need to deal with moving traffic, machinery, or heavy/risky equipment. Risky jobs such as Construction, Roadwork, Pedestrian Control, and Warehousing typically requires employees to wear high-visibility (hi vis) clothing to ensure their visibility to others present on those premises. The aim of hi vis clothing is to avoid terrible accidents that unfortunately are quite possible!
The correct use of hi vis clothing is relatively simple, and it is a reasonable precaution to put into effect. In addition to this, it plays a major role in maintaining safety & preventing accidents. Read on to understand the importance of wearing hi vis clothing in the workplace.
Reduces the risk of accidents & fatalities
Hi vis workwear clothing significantly reduces the risk of accidents and fatalities in a busy work environment. At busy work locations such as vehicular traffic, construction areas, marshalling yards, and industrial premises, hi vis workwear is required as per Health and Safety regulations. Similarly, in large storage aisles & warehouses, forklifts can be relatively silent if their warning horns are momentarily not in operation. In such type of environment or when working near entrance & exit areas of that premises, hi vis vests or hi vis work jackets are required as a minimum safety measure.
Essential in traffic management roles
Depending on the ambient lighting & any electrical illumination, full-body hi-vis workwear is necessary so that the drivers of approaching vehicles are able to see the wearer more easily. This is especially important in traffic management roles; the reflective trousers & jackets here are much more noticeable and, therefore, they increase the margin of safety. Probably the most effective choice of hi vis garment color is fluorescent or Day-Glo yellow for a traffic management role. However, it is important to consider the contrast of the wearer against any background for safety where there’s less than optimal lighting. Extra reflective strips on some types of hi vis waistcoat & trousers work as an additional bright feature for such jobs.
Useful for people other than workers
Not just employees, but wearing brightly colored reflective over jackets or waistcoats are also important for site visitors to maintain visibility and safety. Lightweight options can be considered for summer use, while thicker & heavier hi-vis clothing with thermal insulation is clearly suitable for winter temperatures. Hi-vis clothing or jackets are also suggested for motorcycle couriers as they help to prevent accidents & certain life-threatening injuries.
Brings uniformity of appearance
In addition to the safety benefits that hi vis clothing provides, it can also be used for identifying staff & authorized personnel in any given location – particularly where access is controlled or restricted for safety or security reasons. This uniformity of appearance provided by hi vis clothing makes it easier for approaching visitors to identify company employees at goods inwards or security gates. Also, it fosters a team spirit in the employees and helps in increases awareness of a company’s presence by promoting a visible corporate identity.
How High Visibility Vest ensures worker’s safety?
Employees’ safety should always be the top priority for any business. The use of high-visibility clothing plays an important in decreasing the possibility of injuries, the. High visibility vest allows workers to be seen in low-light conditions where the risk of getting injured is high.
High visibility vests come in various reflective & fluorescent bright colors specifically to be used during the day & at night. It is vital to choose the appropriate hi vis clothing that best suits the job environment and work conditions.
- Reflective vests are best for use in low light levels, i.e., they are best suited for night time work environments.
- Fluorescent vests are better suited for bright & daytime work environments.
In this article, we will see the benefits these hi vis vests provide and the components of high visibility clothing design which ensures worker’s safety.
Benefits of Hi-Vis Vest
- Ensure employees remain visible at all times– Hi vis vest makes it easier for your employees to be visible to others at the work station by making their regular clothing stand out from the background.
- Enables drivers to see workers– In roadside construction site or other areas where there is vehicle traffic, wearing the right high visibility vest reduces the risks of workers getting injured by oncoming traffic.
- Creates a safer working environment- Your employees tend to feel safer when they have access to high visibility clothing. This increased safety translates into increased productivity & better employee morale.
- Reduced likelihood of accidents- Accidents usually occurs due to incapability of the drivers to clearly see the onsite workers. This risk is reduced significantly by using the right hi vis vest as it provides great visibility to the vehicle operators.
Components of High-Visibility Design
High visibility vest is designed to be easily spotted. The human eye best responds to objects that are bright, large & moving. Because of this, hi vis vest has become important when it comes to workplace safety.
Importance of Color
These vest come in bright, attention-grabbing colors such as fluorescent yellow-green, orange-red, and red. These hi vis vests have strips of reflective material colored with white or silver. This material is very useful for workers working during night hours and in areas with low-visibility lighting. One of the most significant uses of high-visibility vests is it makes it easier for drivers to spot a worker on the road in construction zones. The location & configuration of the reflective material enables a person to know which way the wearer is standing – facing them, or with their back toward them. The reflective material typically provides 360-degree visibility and has horizontal gaps of 50mm or less.
Lightweight Material
The material of hi vis vests is very light in weight and easy for workers to maneuver in. These vests are typically made from the web or net-like mesh material. Mesh material is used because it adds a minimal amount of weight to a person and dries out easily when wet.
Other Customizable Safety Options
Hi vis vests also come in a variety of options which makes them more customizable. Depending upon the specific application, these vests can have a varying number of pockets & closures. These pockets can be both inside & out and can be designed for different purposes, such as holding cellphones, tablets, and drawings/blueprints. The closures on hi vis vests range from three different materials which include Velcro, zippers and breakaway designs.
Ending Note
Whether you’re working in an office or on a roadway, safety should be the topmost priority. Make sure to check your surroundings for any hazards which can harm you or others. Making sure to take all precautions in order to ensure the safety of employees; this will not just keep you safe but will also make a happier and better workplace.