High visibility clothing: Who needs to wear it?

High visibility class 1 clothing provides the lowest level of visibility. This includes clothing such as hi-vis trousers that are worn separately from other hi-vis garments.

Class 1 clothing must have: 

• Minimum band of retro-reflective material - 50mm wide. 
• Minimum background material - 0.14m sq. 
• Minimum retro-reflective material - 0.10m sq.

High visibility class 2 clothing provides an intermediate level of visibility. Hi-vis sleeveless vests are commonly classified as class 2, as despite being a single garment, they are worn at a higher, more visible position on the body.

Class 2 clothing must have: 

• Minimum band of retro-reflective material - 50mm wide. 
• Minimum background material - 0.50m sq. 
• Minimum retro-reflective material - 0.13m sq.

High visibility class 3 clothing provides the highest level of visibility

Class 3 compliance can be achieved by wearing individual garments rated as Class 3, such as a high-visibility jacket or coverall, or by combining jointly certified items that together meet the required total area of fluorescent and reflective material.

Class 3 clothing must have: 

• Minimum band of retro-reflective material - 50mm wide. 
• Minimum background material - 0.80m sq. 
• Minimum retro-reflective material - 0.20m sq.

High visibility clothing is important because it enhances the wearer's visibility, reducing the risk of accidents in hazardous environments. It helps workers stand out in low-light conditions, fog, or busy areas with moving vehicles and machinery. So, by making individuals more noticeable to drivers and equipment operators, high visibility clothing plays a crucial role in preventing injuries and saving lives, especially in high-risk workplaces and traffic-heavy zones.

The construction industry requires high visibility clothing to enhance worker safety in high-risk environments where visibility is crucial. Construction sites are often busy and hazardous, with heavy machinery, moving vehicles, and multiple workers operating in various conditions, including low light, bad weather, or areas with limited visibility. Hi-vis clothing ensures that workers remain easily seen by equipment operators, drivers, and colleagues, reducing the risk of accidents such as collisions or being struck by objects.

High visibility clothing is essential in the rail industry to protect workers from the significant risks posed by moving trains and heavy machinery. Railway environments are often fast-paced and can involve poor lighting or adverse weather conditions, making it difficult for train operators and other workers to spot individuals on or near the tracks. High-vis clothing, typically in orange, ensures that workers are easily seen and train drivers can react quickly, reducing the risk of accidents.

High visibility clothing is critical in the roadworks industry to ensure the safety of workers who are often positioned near live traffic and moving vehicles. Roadwork sites typically involve heavy machinery, fast-moving traffic, and low visibility conditions - especially during night shifts or adverse weather. By wearing brightly coloured and reflective garments, workers are made highly visible to drivers - giving them time to react and avoid hazards - reducing the risk of accidents and collisions. 

High visibility clothing is vital in the manufacturing industry to ensure the safety of workers in environments where heavy machinery, equipment, and moving vehicles are common. Manufacturing facilities often have complex layouts, dimly lit areas, and high-traffic zones, making it crucial for workers to be easily seen by machine operators and other personnel. Wearing high-vis clothing helps reduce the risk of accidents, such as being struck by equipment or vehicles. Additionally, it provides visibility in emergency situations, enabling quicker identification of workers who may need assistance.

High visibility clothing is essential in the maritime industry, including on ships, oil rigs, and for fishermen, to ensure the safety of workers in challenging and often dangerous environments. This industry typically operates in low-light conditions, such as during night shifts, fog, or stormy weather, where visibility is crucial for avoiding accidents. High-vis clothing helps workers stand out, making them easily visible to others - especially in emergency situations where quick identification is critical. On oil rigs and ships, the reflective properties of high-vis garments also assist in spotting personnel from a distance, particularly in hazardous conditions. 

High visibility clothing is crucial for those working in emergency response, including police, fire, and paramedic teams, to ensure their safety and effectiveness in responding to emergencies. These workers often operate in high-risk, fast-paced environments, such as accident scenes, fires, and hazardous situations, where being easily visible is essential. The bright colours and reflective materials allows emergency responders to be quickly identified by others, including fellow responders, bystanders, and drivers - especially in low-light conditions or chaotic situations. This helps to reduce the risk of accidents or collisions, and aids coordination and safety during critical operations.

High visibility clothing is essential in the aerospace industry, especially for airport workers, to ensure their safety in busy, high-traffic environments where visibility is crucial. Airports are large, complex spaces with moving vehicles, aircraft, and heavy machinery, often operating in low-light conditions or at night. Wearing high-vis clothing, such as reflective vests or jackets, allows workers to be easily seen by pilots, vehicle operators, and other personnel, reducing the risk of accidents and collisions. It is especially important on the tarmac, where ground crew, baggage handlers, and airside workers are at risk of being overlooked by drivers and equipment operators, helping to prevent dangerous situations and improve overall safety at the airport.

High visibility clothing is vital for public service workers, including refuse collectors, grounds maintenance crews, waste management staff, and crossing guards, to ensure their safety in environments where they are often working near moving vehicles and in low-visibility conditions. These workers frequently operate in busy, high-traffic areas, such as roads, streets, and public spaces, where being easily seen is essential to avoid accidents. The bright colours and reflective materials in high-vis clothing make workers highly visible to drivers and other pedestrians, especially during early mornings, evenings, or in adverse weather conditions, ensuring workers are noticed from a distance.

High visibility clothing is crucial for workers in the utilities industry, to ensure their safety whilst performing tasks in hazardous environments. Utility workers, including those working with electricity, water, gas, or telecommunications, often operate near busy roads, in confined spaces, or in areas with heavy machinery and traffic. High-vis clothing helps them remain visible to drivers, fellow workers, and equipment operators, reducing the risk of accidents, especially during low-light conditions or adverse weather, and improving safety on the job.

High visibility clothing is important in education to ensure the safety of both teachers and students - especially when off school premises during activities like school trips, outdoor events, or crossing busy roads. Teachers and staff often wear high-vis clothing to remain easily identifiable to children, fellow staff members, and the public, reducing the risk of accidents in areas with traffic or other hazards. For children, wearing high visibility vests helps make them more visible to drivers, particularly during school outings or when walking near roads.

High visibility clothing is essential for security and safety personnel at events, such as stewards, marshals, gate staff, and car park attendants, to ensure they are easily seen in crowded or high-traffic environments. These workers often operate in areas with heavy foot and vehicle traffic, and so wearing bright, reflective clothing allows them to be quickly identified by event-goers, drivers, and colleagues - improving coordination, emergency response, and reducing the risk of accidents.

High visibility clothing is crucial for workers involved in disaster and environmental cleanup to ensure their safety in hazardous, and often chaotic, conditions. These workers are frequently exposed to dangerous environments, such as damaged infrastructure, debris-filled areas, or polluted sites, where visibility is key to preventing accidents. Wearing high-vis clothing helps these workers stand out to others, including colleagues, emergency responders, and passing vehicles - especially in low-light conditions or during intense weather.

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 - Employers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their employees, which includes providing appropriate PPE, such as hi-vis clothing, when necessary.
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 - Requires employers to provide suitable PPE, including hi-vis clothing, at no cost to employees when risks cannot be controlled by other means.
• EN ISO 20471 and BN EN 471 - Specifies the standards for high visibility clothing in terms of design, material, and reflectivity. 
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 - Requires appropriate PPE, including hi-vis clothing, to be worn on construction sites where visibility is crucial for safety.
• Railway Safety Regulations 1999 and RIS-3279-TOM - Workers in the rail industry must comply with Network Rail standards, which often require full-body high-visibility orange clothing.

As the regulations in the UK above state, it is the employers responsibility to provide employees with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), including high visibility clothing, when necessary. This should be at no cost to the employee, when the risks cannot be controlled by other means. 

For more information on who is responsible for providing PPE, read our helpful guide. 

Generally, the lifespan of high visibility depends on factors such as frequency of use, exposure to sunlight, and washing conditions. For workers wearing hi-vis gear daily, replacement may be necessary every 6 months to a year. Less frequent use may extend its lifespan to around 2-3 years. 

Regular inspections should be conducted to check for reduced brightness, damaged reflective strips, or fabric wear, as compromised visibility can reduce safety and effectiveness.

You should replace your high-visibility clothing if you notice any of the following signs:

• Fading or dull fabric: The fluorescent material has lost its brightness, reducing daytime visibility.
• Damaged or worn reflective strips: Cracked, peeling, or missing reflective strips no longer provide proper visibility at night.
• Tears, holes or fraying: Significant wear and tear can compromise the integrity of the garment.
• Stubborn stains or dirt buildup: Excessive dirt or grease can cover fluorescent and reflective materials, making them ineffective.
• Frequent washing wear: Over time, repeated washing can degrade the fabric and reflective elements.
• Doesn’t meet safety standards anymore: If the garment no longer complies with required safety regulations, it should be replaced.
• Loose or stretched fit: A poor fit can reduce visibility and may not provide adequate coverage.