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There are a surprisingly large number of industries that require its workers to wear high visibility clothing. The obvious jobs that spring to mind are the ones you tend to see most often, people working on the roads, railways and on building sites. But when you start to think about it, there are many more incidences where wearing hi vis clothing means the difference between being at risk and not.
High vis workwear is a legal personal protective equipment, or PPE, requirement for some employees in certain circumstances. Below we have explored some of the most common scenarios where you would expect to see hi vis clothing worn. This list is not exhaustive and as always, the level of risk of a required task will dictate the safest PPE to wear. More information on this can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website.
High visibility clothing should be supplied to all employees where there may be a risk to their health and safety whilst at work. The construction industry is perhaps the most obvious where workers might potentially be at risk whilst carrying out their job.
Moving vehicles, machinery and hoists that transport materials from one place to another are one of the main risk factors on a building site which is why hi vis jackets are super important. The difference between being seen and not could be fatal on a construction site.
Building sites tend to be outdoors so the most useful high vis workwear in these situations would be waterproof hi vis jackets and hi vis soft shell jackets. Wearing reflective clothing that keeps you warm and dry whilst keeping you visible is essential for those working in the construction industry.
In the UK anyone working railside or lineside on the railway network must wear orange hi vis clothing at all times. The legislation that dictates the specifications for rail workers hi vis PPE is RIS-3279-TOM, formerly GO/RT 3297.
The colour orange is known to stand out more than fluorescent yellow in natural settings where the background colour is green, which accounts for the background of much of the railway system in the UK. Railway hi vis clothing that is orange ensures that workers are conspicuous both at the side of the railway line and when working on the tracks.
Similarly to the construction industry, an orange hi vis jacket and orange hi vis trousers that meet class 3 high visibility standards are the preferred PPE for rail workers that work outside. Railway employees that work inside railway stations may prefer orange hi vis vests as their level of risk are deemed lower than those that work outside.
Roads
As with the both the construction industry and the railway industry, roadside workers are at higher risk of being involved in an accident as there are often moving vehicles around the areas they work in. Roadside workers may be employed by the local council or may be private contractors but either way, they are required by law to wear hi vis workwear whilst at work.
Whether carrying out roadworks, directly traffic, fixing signage and signalling, surfacing or building new roads, those that work in close proximity to moving traffic are at high risk of being involved in a road traffic incident. Ensuring that workers are wearing the appropriate amount of hi visibility workwear could mean the difference between staying safe and being injured.
Hi vis clothing most suited to those working on and around roads are waterproof hi vis jackets and hi vis trousers. These can either be yellow or orange hi vis, but other colours such as blue, pink or purple are not bright enough for this level of risk.
Manufacturing
Much manufacturing in the UK is carried out in warehouses. Manufacturing can include putting together a wide range of products from building materials to cars, food items to textiles. Whether the items being produced are large or small, these days much of the manufacturing process involves heavy duty machinery.
Operating this machinery involves a level of risk for those working in this type of situation. Hi vis clothing in this scenario ensures workers are visible amidst moving parts, indoor vehicles and in storage areas for the finished products.
Whilst insulative hi vis workwear might not be as necessary here as for those working outdoors, it may often be draughty in large warehouses, especially if there are large openings. For this reason hi vis fleeces, hi vis sweatshirts and hi vis hoodies provide a good level of visibility, keep workers warm and can be personalised or branded, a sure sign of a professional operation.
Emergency Responders
Anyone working as an emergency responder is required to wear hi vis clothing whilst at work. This includes members of the fire service, police officers working at night or attending to traffic, paramedics, first responders, coast guard and anyone who has a critical response role during emergency situations. Being responsible for coordinating other people and vehicles during emergencies is an important role and it is vital that these people are visible.
Depending on the level of risk involved, hi vis attire in emergency scenarios can range from hi vis jackets and hi vis fleeces to hi vis vests and hi vis body warmers.
Much of this type of hi vis clothing will be customised, so the public are able to easily recognise the role of these emergency responders. In situations where people may otherwise panic, being visible may help maintain control and ensure the safety of those involved.
Airport Workers
We all know how busy airports can be. From the terminal windows we can see airport ground staff directing taxiing planes, driving baggage carts, fuel tanks and maintenance vehicles across the runways.
Where there are so many moving people and parts such as at an airport, ensuring you are visible whilst carrying out your job is essential to keeping you safe from harm. Airport workers will typically be required to wear class 3 hi vis PPE that makes them highly visible at all times.
Hi vis work trousers paired with hi vis outerwear will keep employees warm whilst working outdoors, make them easily recognisable and can be branded with airline, airport or contractor branding for a professional uniform that is safe and stylish.
Public Services
We’ve mentioned above about road workers and railway workers but there are other public services where employees might risk injury whilst at work. Refuse collectors is a key one as they manoeuvre heavy items whilst moving along roads.
Other examples include those responsible for the maintaining of public gardens, grass verges and grounds maintenance, those working on utilities and those involved in waste management. The public sector in the UK is made up of over five million employees, many of whom carry out jobs that contain a level of risk.
Hi vis clothing for public sector workers will depend on the risk factors involved in their role but could include class 1 protection such as hi vis vests to more visible class 3 PPE such as hi vis jackets and hi vis coats.
Schools
Where teachers, teaching assistants and school support staff take pupils outside of the school setting, a hi vis vest ensures that they are visible to both members of the public and the children they are supervising.
Examples of scenarios where hi vis might be required by a school include teachers directing traffic around pick up and drop off times, walking with children to use local facilities such as swimming lessons, or by crossing guards who facilitate safe road crossings for students on their way to and from school.
For light use in low risk situations, a hi vis vest would suffice but for crossing guards who spend much of their time outside an insulated waterproof hi vis jacket is more appropriate.
Leisure
In the events industry you’ll see event marshals, stewards and gate staff wearing hi vis clothing, especially during outdoor events such as festivals, rallies and country shows.
Being easily distinguishable from the crowds lets eventgoers know that you are working, ensures you are seen by moving vehicles and lets people know that should they need to speak to a member of staff or event official, that you are the right person to seek out.
In this type of situation, hi vis vests are most commonly used, and they provide visibility for both the wearer and the general public.
In addition to these industry sectors above you’ll see car park attendants wearing hi vis vests, supermarket staff who collect trolleys, tree surgeons cutting down trees and removal company staff all wearing hi vis clothing to make sure they are visible and safe at work.
Whatever sector you operate in Stitch and Print provide good quality, safe and legal hi vis workwear, including hi vis hoodies, hi vis fleeces and hi vis bodywarmers. Check out our full range and keep your workers visible, warm and on brand.
See the latest hi vis clothing range to bring a safe working environment to yourself and your staff members.
