You work on a construction site, in a warehouse, on an airport runway, or any other site where a few seconds' inattention puts you at risk of incidents?
In any working environment, safety must always be a top priority. This is why wearing high-visibility clothing is essential to guarantee safety and minimize accidents in such environments.

Designed with fluorescent materials and reflective elements, these garments are more than just a fashion statement. They are tools that improve visibility and make workers easier to spot, especially in hazardous conditions or low-light environments.

Whether it's a work jacket with reflective stripes, high-visibility overalls, a safety flag, fluorescent pants or armbands, these are all essentials to make sure you're seen by others. The most important role is to alert drivers to the presence of workers in the area.

Ever wondered whether the item you're buying is the best safety option? Here are the 9 essentials you need to know about high-visibility safety clothing.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit our website.

The 9 Factors

High-visibility clothing, often referred to as "hi-vis" or fluorescent garments, are clothing designed with specific features and materials to maximize visibility in low-light conditions or in low-visibility environments obstructed by safety barriers, merchandise,or materials.

When wearing high-visibility clothing,there are several important factors to consider to maximize its effectivenessand ensure your personal safety. Here are just a few:

1. Lighting and Weather Conditions

Do you work outdoors at night? Do you work in a dark, low-light environment? Maximize your chances of being seen! Visibility is crucial in low-light situations. In this case, opt for a high-visibility clothing that surrounds the whole body, providing better visibility in all directions.

Also, be alert of the weather; if it's predicting a gray day, fog, rain, snow, or if you're working at dawn or dusk, you'll need to dress accordingly for your safety. In these conditions, high-visibility clothing is a must. If you have a high-visibility vest, but put a raincoat over it, you risk lowering your required level of visibility. That's why it's a good idea to think about buying a safety raincoat or safety fleece in case of rain or cooler days.

2. The Risks

Wondering when to wear high-visibility safety clothing? First, it's important to identify the hazards present in your workplace:

• What type of tasks do you perform? Are they hazardous to your safety?
• Are you in the presence of rolling stock?
• Are you exposed to heat or flames? 
• Are you exposed to hazards around you? 
• Are there any obstacles in your working environment? 
• Does the lighting provide good visibility? 
• Are you sheltered from the weather? 
• Are you in a traffic zone where speed is an issue? 
• Are reaction distances necessary in your workplace?
• Are there any distractions at your workplace?
  
  Once you've answered these questions, you'll have a better idea of whether safety clothing is appropriate.

3. Clothing Type

Choose high-visibility clothing tailored to your specific needs. Consider the type of activity you'll be doing, the work environment, the weather conditions, and the level of visibility required. Choose from vests, jackets, raincoats, pants and accessories to suit your situation.

Note that safety clothing must fit snugly so that the high-visibility stripes are clearly visible when you're on the move. Clothing that's too loose will hide them, reducing your safety. Choose comfortable, lightweight clothing so you can get through the day!

4. Colour

Prioritize safety clothing in bright, fluorescent colors such as bright yellow-green or bright orange,which offer better contrast to your working environment. This way, you're sure to be visible, especially in low-light conditions or at dawn and dusk.

5. Material Type

Fluorescent and retroreflective materials are both commonly used in the manufacturing of high-visibility clothing, but they have different objectives for improving visibility.

Fluorescent: Fluorescent materials are designed to enhance visibility by absorbing light at one wavelength and emitting it at a longer wavelength. This property allows them to appear extremely bright and vivid,even in low-light conditions or on visually cluttered backgrounds.

Note that fluorescent colors are most effective during the day, when natural light is present.

Retroreflective: Retroreflective materials, on the other hand, are designed to reflect light back to its source over long distances, regardless of the direction from which it comes. These materials contain tiny glass beads or prisms that reflect light back to its source, making the wearer more visible to others.

Retroreflective elements, such as strips or tapes, are strategically placed to reflect light back to its source in low-light or night-time situations, for example in the presence of headlights or other light sources. They are most effective at night, or in situations where visibility is limited.

To maximize visibility in various lighting conditions, high-visibility clothing often combine fluorescent and retroreflective materials. By combining these two types of material, clothing offer improved visibility by day and night, and in a variety of lighting conditions, reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing personal protection.

6. Type of Stripes

 Did you know that there are specific criterias for clothing stripes on high-visibility clothing? According to the CSA-Z96-15 standard, you must have:

• 1 horizontal band around the entire waist.
• 2 vertical stripes at front, from shoulders to waist.
• A symmetrical "X" on the back, from shoulders to waist.
• For ''Class 3'' clothing, bands must encircle both arms and legs.
• The minimum width of the bands must not be less than 50 mm from end to end.
• If there are several bands on the garment, they must be at least 50 mm apart.
• Gaps for fastenings and seams must not exceed 50 mm.
• Horizontal bands placed near the edge of a garment, sleeve or trouserleg must not be less than 50 mm from the edge.
• Horizontal stripes on trouser legs must be at or below knee level.
• If bands around the arms and legs of ''Class 3'' clothing are made of retroreflective material, they must be made of 50 mm of the conforming base material on one side, or 25 mm on each side of the retroreflectivestripes/stripes.

7. Label

Wondering if your safety clothing meets the CSA Z96-15 standard? Look at the label on the inside of your sweater or raincoat. It should say CSA Z96-15 and the type of class on the garment, as well as the performance level of the reflective material.

8. Type of Maintenance

To ensure maximum protection, safety clothing must be regularly maintained. If there are dust stains or dirt, you reduce your visibility in the workplace. Refer to your garment's care label for cleaning instructions if you're unsure.

It's also important to check the condition of your clothing; if it's worn, torn or contaminated, it's time to replace it! It wouldn't be safe to continue wearing them, as their effectiveness and visibility would be greatly affected.

9. Clothing Classes

CSA Standard Z96-15 &#; High-visibility safety clothing - defines 3 classes of safety clothing, depending on the risks involved. This means that there are regulations governing the garment's fit, color, type of reflective strips and the brightness of the base materials.

*Note that clothing class specifications are similar for the USA with ANSI/ISEA 107 Standard. The only difference is that in Canada we require a body surface to be covered, rather than a minimum area to be covered.

Class 1: LOW RISK
Provides the lowest recognized coverage and good visibility. Covers the smallest recognized surface area of the body and provides good visibility in low-risk situations. High-visibility clothing is not mandatory for this class but must be worn with high-visibility or retroreflective strips. 

Type of job: 

• Workers directing vehicle operators to parking or service locations. 
• Workers retrieving shopping carts in parking areas. 
• Workers in warehouse operations. 
• "Right-of-Way" or sidewalk maintenance workers. 
• Workers in shipping or receiving operations.     

Class 2: MEDIUM RISK 
Cover sa moderately large area of the body and provides excellent visibility in a medium-risk situation. High-visibility clothing is mandatory for this class and must be fluorescent/bright orange or fluorescent/bright yellow.

Type of job: 

• Roadway construction,utility, forestry, or railway workers.
• Manufacturing, plant, or mill workers. 
• Survey crews.
• School crossing guards.
• Parking and toll gate workers. 
• Airport baggage handlers and ground crews.
• Emergency response personnel. 
• Members of law enforcement.
• Accident site investigators. 
• Railway workers.

Class 3: HIGH RISK
Covers the largest surface area of the body and provides the best visibility in low-light conditions and at a distance in a medium-risk situation. High visibility clothing must be fluorescent/bright orange or fluorescent/bright yellow, with high-visibility stripes on the arms and legs. Workers must wear high visibility clothing for the upper and lower parts of the body(pants).

Type of job: 

• Roadway construction workers. 
• Utility workers. 
• Survey crews. 
• Mine workers. 
• Emergency responders. 
• Road assistance or courtesy patrols.
• Flagging crews. 
• Towing operators.

Conclusion

A significant number of accidents occur due to poor visibility. Poor visibility can lead to collisions, workplace incidents and other unfortunate events. High-visibility clothing is a proactive accident prevention measure, providing an early warning signal to people nearby.

 By wearing high-visibility clothing, individuals increase their chances of being noticed, giving others more time to react and avoid potential accidents. The reflective properties of high-visibility clothing are particularly useful at night, as they reflect light from headlights or other sources, making the wearer more visible from a distance. Whether at work, on the road or in recreational activities, high-visibility clothing should be considered an essential personal protection tool.

In summary, you're never safe from the weather, so make sure you have a change of clothes. Even if you leave a high-visibility raincoat or a pair of safety pants in your car, you'll be glad you have them. Prevention is better than a cure! 

Source for the 3 classes and info : https://www.cchst.ca/oshanswers/prevention/ppe/high_visibility.html

Did you know that 1 in every 5 construction fatalities happens due to being struck by a vehicle or machinery? If you are working on roadside construction projects, you're at a high risk of a struck-by accidents. But there are ways to make yourself and your crew more visible to vehicles and heavy machinery. High visibility clothing can make you visible at distances greater than a thousand feet, giving both you and incoming traffic enough time to reach safety.

However, not all high visibility clothing is equal. Your purchase of clothing can be overkill, an underestimation, or even illegal in some circumstances. Some should answer these questions before you choose the right high visibility clothes for yourself or your crew:

• Where you work (Foliage, surroundings, colors, traffic)

• When you work (day/nighttime)

• In what conditions do you work (weather, safety hazards, tool and equipment use)

Based on these 3 questions, here are the 6 things you should look into before investing in reflective vests and jackets:

ANSI/ISEA: Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3?

We discussed the topic of ANSI/ISEA 107 classes in detail in our blog.

Before you decide what reflective clothing you should be buying for yourself and your team, you must first identify what safety regulations you must adhere to.  Your state OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) decides whether your line of work or your working environment requires you to wear high visibility clothing.

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One handy fact sheet created by Oregon OSHA summarizes who should be wearing reflective clothes at work. If you work in the below industries, you likely need to wear reflective clothing at some point during work hours:

• Roadside construction workers and flaggers,

• Truck drivers

• Building construction crews,

• Railway and airport personnel,

• Surveyors,

• Electricians and other utility workers

• Policemen and other emergency responders

• Warehouse workers

This doesn't mean that the rules are all the same for all of the above professions. While flaggers working at roadside construction sites at night will require the highest visibility, it is not as important if you're working at a warehouse or as a driver.

Once you determine whether OSHA requires you to wear high-vis clothing or not, you can then figure out how reflective your clothing should be.

These requirements are jointly set by ANSI and ISEA and should be compliant with ANSI/ISEA 107 standards. Although these standards get updated every few years like ANSI/ISEA 107-YYYY (where YYYY can be , , , etc.), this doesn't make older publications of it less effective. In fact, the garment industry isn't too quick to catch up with the latest publications. So any high visibility vest or jacket that adheres to ANSI/ISEA 107 will be a great choice, given it's in the right class. So what are those classes?

There are mainly three classes of high visibility apparel: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. ANSI/ISEA 107 states that high visibility clothing is made out of 3 key parts: background material, retroreflective material, and combined-performance material. The classification of a high-vis clothing item is mainly dependent on the amount of background and retroreflective material used in the clothing.

In addition to these 3 classes, there are also 3 types: Off-road (O), Roadway(R), and Public Safety(P).

Depending on your working environment, you will need your clothing to adhere to one of these categories. Based on the jobs listed above:

So before you purchase high visibility apparel, make sure you read the product descriptions to check whether the ANSI/ISEA 107 class is the right one for you.

High Visibility Clothing for Different Weather Conditions

There's nothing more frustrating than being expected to wear certain clothes at work that feels too wet, cold, or hot. In our experience, one of the main reasons why workers ditch their safety clothing is for the same reason too hot is a thing and too safe isn't. Reflective clothes aren't something you simply throw on top of your existing clothes. The right material type, thickness, and breathability, along with protection against elements (e.g. ribbed cuffs or a hoodie) is probably the biggest contributor to how comfortable your high-vis clothes will feel.

For example, winter-ready high-vis jackets should have strong wind protection and probably fleece inner lining to keep you warm. Having ribbed cuffs is probably also going to keep the warmth where it belongs too. But make sure you're not TOO hot at the end of the day, and keep in mind that sometimes wearing more layers under a thin high vis jacket is a better option for people who have to go in and out of vehicles or indoor working environments.

Lastly, depending on the temperature and your working environment, your high-vis gear can get covered in sweat and soil. The latter can actually cause you to fail an OSHA inspection if it means that your clothes aren't reflective enough because they are covered in mud. So make sure that what you're purchasing is washable, and that the reflective parts will hold up after many times of washing.

Luckily, our store has all the right high visibility vests, raincoats, shirts, and jackets for every occasion. For example, here's a winter jacket that our users love.

Features & Functionality

No work clothing is complete without having features that make your job easy. From having detachable hoodies to having easily accessible pockets, some many bells and whistles come with high visibility clothes (especially true for heavier or thicker garments).

One of the most useful things to have is pockets that will hold up to heavy use. Our customers carry all kinds of things in their pockets, often heavy and pointy stuff such as hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, and the like. So having pockets with strong seams and zippers is crucial. No one likes going fishing in their pocket because of a hole.

The placement of the pockets is important as well, especially if you're working in confined spaces. Having a chest pocket is great if you need to constantly put and take out things from your pockets.

Colors

The first image that comes to your mind when someone mentions a reflective vest is probably something yellow and shiny. High visibility clothes ARE typically yellow, that's true, but there are many other colors to choose from: orange, black, green, red, and even pink! Having a unique vest color can mean that you can even wear them outside work and look good in them (with the added benefit of staying visible to traffic). Some of our customers use their vests while cycling on the weekends.

It goes without saying, you should check with your supervisor or the workplace standards set by ANSI/ISEA 107 to determine what colors are acceptable in your case. Your jacket should have high contrast with your environment to qualify for ANSI/ISEA 107. Depending on your working conditions, you might be restricted to using yellow/green, orange/red, or red-colored gear. Our product pages always mention the ANSI/ISEA 107 classes when applicable.

Size & Fit

Pay attention to the size of your high-vis gear, especially if you're wearing thick clothing underneath it. When it comes to high visibility jackets and raincoats, it's advisable to buy one size larger than you normally do.  Also, people tend to gain a few pounds over the winter holidays. After coming back to work from vacation, you may find out that it is a little harder than usual to zip up your jacket.

Women account for almost a quarter of our visitors, so we make sure to keep stock of women's and unisex models. This pink high visibility jacket for women is especially popular with our female customers.

Logo Customization

If you're equipping a whole team with high-vis clothing, you may be wondering if you can print your own logo on the clothes. After all, the clothes are highly visible, and so will be your business if your logo is on them. We do offer logo customization and discounts for orders of as low as 20 pieces to support small and medium businesses. Get in touch with your sales team here to learn more.

There are a few things to consider when you're printing logos on high visibility clothing. The logo shouldn't interfere with the reflectivity of the garment. ANSI/ISEA 107 is very peculiar about how much logo area they allow, but our team can help you find the right balance between ANSI compliance and advertising potential.

So those were our tips for what you should be looking out for when buying high visibility clothing. If you still have questions, ask your supervisor, your local OSHA, or the safety experts here at Fonirra what's the best purchase for your needs.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Reflective Safety Clothing.