The importance of hi-visibility clothing

Wearing hi-visibility clothing could be the difference between life and death

There are dangers specific to each business and line of employment. Professionalism dictates that those working in certain industries should dress in particular ways. To let customers know they are interacting with the right individuals, employees in the hospitality sector for example, such as waiters and waitresses, wear name tags and branded uniforms. In other line of work, you may be required to wear hi-visibility clothing.

High-visibility apparel has been worn by people for many centuries. The 1950s saw a rise in its popularity following its usage during World War II. They were largely utilised by railway workers in the past but these days their applications and use are much more widespread. Different kinds of hi-visibility clothing are tailored for particular working situations and workplace circumstances. Hi-visibility items are available in a variety of bright fluorescent and reflecting colours for use both during the day and at night.

In low light and at night, workers from several sectors wear reflective hi-visibility safety apparel such as vests and complete head to toe uniform. To guarantee their safety, employees on railroads or in the construction industry must wear luminous clothes when working at night on a project. When light hits the hi-visibility materials they reflect it, which helps the wearer to be identified.

Benefits

Enhanced Visibility High quality hi-vis safety clothing ensures that workers are visible at all times.

Worker Recognition for Drivers With hi-visibility clothing, it’s easier for drivers on a busy roadway or highway to spot workers, even if they are speeding by. Hi-visibility clothing protects workers in roadside construction or other job sites where vehicle traffic is present.

Safe Work Environment There’s no doubt that hi-visibility workwear creates a safer working environment. Employees will feel markedly safe working in accident-prone job sites when they have access to high-visibility clothing, reflective harnesses, and other safety workwear. Increased worker safety also results in better employee motivation, morale, and productivity.

Fewer Accidents Hi-visibility clothing reduces the risk of accidents. Even though accidents will occur in dangerous job sites, these clothes and related gear will significantly reduce the number of accidents due to workers not being seen.

Hi-visibility standards

Class 1 - Lowest visibility level. We should only use this in minimal risk zones, and probably not for most working environments where hi vis is mandated for safety.

Class 2 - Medium visibility level. Road workers, people working near vehicles, and public safety personnel should wear this. The garment should have two 50mm bands around the body or one band around the body and braces to both shoulders.

Class 3 - Highest visibility level. The garment needs two bands of reflective tape around the body, arms need to be long-sleeved with reflective tape on the sleeves and there should be reflective braces on both shoulders.

Considerations when cleaning hi-visibility clothing

Maintaining a clean and organised work uniform should always be your first concern, regardless of whether you work in the construction sector or in another profession that requires hi-visibility clothing. Hi-vis clothing, whether it's a reflective windbreaker for night-time jogging or a fireman's jacket, may be challenging to keep clean. The material crumbles when you use too strong a soap. If you are too mild, the material won't be cleaned thoroughly. If you're wondering how to clean hi-vis clothes, there are a few important things to keep in mind. The tips provided here will help you maintain the stylish appearance for many months to come if you recently bought new hi-vis apparel.

Temperature Excessive temperatures during the washing or drying process can cause degradation to the integrity of the retro reflective tape. This causes the adhesive that holds the glass beads on the tape to be destroyed leading to a loss of reflectance over the lifetime of the garment. The washing temperature must be high enough to effectively remove stains but not too high to cause lasting damage to the clothes.

PH As with temperature, although alkalinity is required for effective cleaning, excessive or prolonged alkalinity can cause damage to reflective tape. Under no circumstance should pH levels of 11 be exceeded.

Multiple washes Make sure you always read the care label on your hi-visibility clothing. It specifies how many times the clothing item can be washed before it must be discarded. Typical hi-vis clothing needs to be replaced after roughly twenty cleaning cycles. Once the colour of hi-vis clothing has begun to fade, immediately dispose of it or better still arrange for it to be recycled. Hi-visibility clothing is designed to make you stand out in the dark and so when it begins to dull, it starts to lose its designed function.

Repeated washing or abrasion by the wearer can cause the reflective tape to degrade over time. The effects of this are especially noticeable to the joints of the clothes, such as the knees and elbows.

How to remove stains from hi-vis clothing To start, wipe out any loose dirt from the garment using a fresh, dry cloth. This is necessary to prevent the material from being soiled during the washing process. Only wash hi-vis clothes in cold water with a gentle detergent. Use a gentle washing powder or a neutral detergent if you're not sure what sort to use. Give the garments a 20-30 minute soak in a tub or bucket.

Then, to completely remove any stains that are still there, carefully rub the item with a gentle brush, paying special attention to the brightly coloured parts. You can regulate the amount of force you apply, this is safer than washing it in a washing machine. Finally, use the shade to dry the clothing. Steer clear of drying them in the sun, since the UV rays can harm the clothing's ability to reflect light. Rinse the garments in cold water and dry them again if they are still soapy.

Use only stain removers that are suitable for bright colours and don't include bleach for very persistent stains. There are many excellent alternatives available but before applying any of them to your brand new hi-vis clothing, be sure you carefully inspect their instructions and labels.

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