The importance of High-Visibility Workwear

The use of high-visibility clothing is an essential requirement in workplaces where completion of tasks involve proximity to, around or inside moving vehicles. Its significance is particularly important for individuals working during low-light and dark conditions. The incorporation of high-visibility clothing should be a fundamental component of any safety measures aimed at reducing the risk of incidents as risk of incidents can be minimized by utilizing high-visibility clothing to indicate a worker’s presence.

To select the suitable high-visibility clothing and ensure its suitability for the existing risks, employers must conduct a thorough workplace hazard assessment. This assessment is essential for identifying the specific type of high-visibility clothing required and ensuring its alignment with the risks present in the workplace.

The evaluation of the type and level of risk is crucial for determining the performance specifications of the high-visibility clothing. As personal protective equipment (PPE), high-visibility clothing must adhere to the standards outlined in the European Union (Personal Protective Equipment) Regulations.

According to these regulations, high-visibility PPE should fulfil two key criteria:

• It must be capable of signalling the user’s presence visually.
• Carry the "CE mark," indicating compliance with essential health and safety requirements

It is important to understand the performance requirements for high-visibility clothing. EN ISO 20471 sets out design and performance requirements of each element of a garment.

This consists of three main components:

1. The fluorescent background material. This boosts visibility during daylight hours and can also increase visibility at night. There are 3 colours approved in the standard: Yellow, Orange and Red.

2. The retroreflective strips. These are designed to enhance visibility during the darker hours of the day. Reflective strips require a light source to work and create retroreflection. They are essential for those working at night.

3. The contrast material. Some high visibility clothing is designed with darker coloured parts that are less sensitive to dirt than the fluorescent material and reflective strips, without which the functionality would diminish. The areas covered with the contrast fabric tend to be where dirt is most likely to build up for example, the sleeve ends and across the abdomen on high visibility fleeces and jackets, and the ankle and knee sections of high visibility work trousers and waterproof trousers.

If you or your team need more information on requirements for high visibility clothing in the workplace or would like to find out more about the high visibility clothing we supply, you can contact our team at sales@totalsource.ieor call us at 091 388 800