The importance of comfortable hi-vis clothing | 2022-02-07

Responding is Andrew Scherz, marketing director for 360 USA, Garden Grove, CA.

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The purpose of high-visibility clothing is to reduce the risk of incidents and improve safety overall. Workers in certain industries who are in close contact with moving machinery are often at risk of being involved in an incident. Working in low light, in inclement weather or at night are other examples of conditions in which hi-vis clothing can help avoid injury. Hi-vis clothing is proven to significantly improve overall worker safety in these circumstances, but the real safety challenge is to ensure hi-vis clothing both fits properly and meets necessary ANSI reflective safety requirements.

People come in many shapes and sizes, which causes a wide range of sizing needs for safety gear. Managing this provides unique challenges when trying to outfit crews with properly fitting hi-vis clothing.

When working in confined spaces or high-risk environments, loose or poor-fitting clothing can snag and potentially trip up and injure workers. Also, discomfort caused by tight or baggy reflective gear can impair performance and range of motion, putting workers at risk of injury.

In addition, a one-size-fits-all approach can be problematic. Workers may try to compensate for poor fit by wearing other clothes that are too tight, bulky or not appropriate for climate conditions. The result can be a breach of safety standards and a heightened risk of injury.

When investing in hi-vis clothing for a work crew, comfort should be a priority. The right material selection is critical because hi-vis shirts and jackets are frequently worn as a base, middle or outer layer. Do your workers need a raincoat, parka or fall arrest harness access? Does their clothing need to be flame resistant or offer other protective features beyond visibility?

These combinations and sizing easily begin to multiply the complexity of managing hi-vis clothing needs. Workplace turnover can also keep the ordering cycle constant.

This is why an ANSI-rated reflective harness is sometimes the best option to address environment, function and fit safety concerns. A harness can fit over rain- and fire-resistant workwear and is adjustable to accommodate many different sizes. This simple solution can address numerous safety and comfort concerns that are commonly associated with hi-vis clothing.

Remember, in any workplace, the safety of employees should be the top priority. It always pays to invest in the appropriate hi-vis clothing and opt for high-quality reflective workwear for better safety and peace of mind.

Editor's note: This article represents the independent views of the author and should not be construed as a National Safety Council endorsement.

What Is Hi-Vis?

The importance of high visibility clothing cannot be overstated. High visibility clothing, sometimes called hi vis or hi viz, is a vital element of workplace uniforms for many industries. The term refers to any garment worn that is brightly luminescent in its natural property, or a color that can be clearly discernible from any background. It’s often seen in the colors fluorescent green, orange, or yellow. The main reason hi vis garments are worn is to increase the wearer’s visibility and thereby prevent accidents caused by them not being seen.

“Our customers choose high visibility clothing for several reasons,” says Chriss Carsello, CITY’s Strategic Partnerships expert.  “It’s a form of PPE (personal protective equipment) and most often it is an OHSA requirement. Customers want to ensure their employees are safe and compliant. CITY offers a number of garments that satisfy their needs that meet OHSA requirements and the comfort levels that employees want and deserve.”

Since its development in the early twentieth century, hi vis clothing has changed a lot, and become standardized. Today, there are specific guidelines to which such garments must conform, as set by the International Safety Equipment Association.

At CITY, we take the safety of our customers very seriously, which is why we’re proud to offer high quality garments that meet international high-visibility standards [ANSI/ISEA 107-2020]. In workplaces like construction sites, other places with moving vehicles and many other industries where it’s imperative for workers to be easily seen against any background, our high-vis uniforms provide an important level of safety.

Prevention is key for any workplace, and proper high visibility workwear reduces the risk of accidents and fatalities in busy environments, whether when your employees are working near vehicular traffic, or in busy industrial environments.

In addition to the advantages high vis clothing provides from a safety standpoint, it can also be effective for managers to easily identify staff and authorized personnel at a certain location, especially where access is controlled or restricted for safety or security reasons.

History of Hi-Vis

Bob Switzer invented high-visibility clothing in the 1930s after he got injured while unloading crates in Berkeley, California. His tragic accident permanently damaged his eyesight, preventing him from pursuing his dream of becoming a physician. It just so happened that Bob’s brother Joe had been researching fluorescent chemicals. Together they developed early prototypes of reflective materials. The first fluorescent paint they developed was named “Day-Glo” because it made materials painted with it shine as if they were glowing in the sunlight.

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During WWII, the reflective material saw a huge growth in popularity as the US Army used it to reduce friendly fire by increasing a soldier’s visibility. They also used fabric panels dipped in reflective paint to signal to airplanes above them.

Being able to substantially increase the observation distance of workers in dark or dimly-lit areas has also decreased the incidence of workplace accidents.

While the technology behind high-visibility PPE has changed, the primary purpose behind this safety gear remains similar to the original products. High-Vis PPE is meant to improve safety for individual workers while reducing the likelihood of injury while on the job.

OSHA rules require that high visibility garments (such as strong red, orange, yellow, and yellow-green) must contrast with other colors in the area sufficiently to make wearers stand out. The garments must also reflect from all sides for 1,000 feet during hours of darkness.

The American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear sets the performance criteria for high-visibility apparel. This safety apparel consists of background material, retroreflective material, and combined-performance material:

Background material is “colored fluorescent material intended to be highly conspicuous, but not intended to comply with the requirements…for retro-reflective material.”

Retroflective material is “material that reflects and returns a relatively high proportion of light in a direction close to the direction from which it came.”

Combined-performance material is “retroreflective material that is also a florescent material and can be counted toward the minimum area requirements for background material.”

Why Choose CITY Hi Vis

While the availability of high visibility clothing has increased in recent years, it’s never as simple as ordering any random garments online marked “hi vis.” Each use case has specific requirements, and different colors work better in different settings. It’s also imperative that garments fit properly, allowing freedom of movement.

Andrew Scherz writes in Safety and Health Magazine, “When working in confined spaces or high-risk environments, loose or poor-fitting clothing can snag and potentially trip up and injure workers. Also, discomfort caused by tight or baggy reflective gear can impair performance and range of motion, putting workers at risk of injury. In addition, a one-size-fits-all approach can be problematic. Workers may try to compensate for poor fit by wearing other clothes that are too tight, bulky, or not appropriate for climate conditions. The result can be a breach of safety standards and a heightened risk of injury.”

CITY’s experts can make sure your employees are properly fitted and that you are choosing the best color items and best fabrics so your employees can stay comfortable and safe at work.

The general guidance for hi-vis apparel is to replace it after 25 washes, before the quality of the visibility. With CITY’s UHF chip technology, we are able to easily track the number of washes a garment has undergone, and replace it before its quality is compromised. There are often specific washing instructions for high visibility clothing to prolong their effectiveness. A uniform rental service eliminates the guesswork. CITY does all the research on every garment we supply, to make sure you receive a properly cared for garment, which saves you valuable time and money.

“Cost really matters, but it only matters after the risks are taken care of,” said Colin Wetlaufer, President of CITY.

Make sure you invest in the safety of your employees with high quality hi vis garments from CITY.

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