High-visibility clothing can be a great asset in any situation where visibility is low. But do you know when you or your employees are required to wear clothing that enhances visibility? And are you aware of your responsibilities as an employer? We’ll go over the basics with you.
As the name indicates, high-visibility workwear is designed to increase visibility and make the wearer stand out, keeping them safe in the process. However, not all high-visibility clothing is created equal; there are standards manufacturers such as Van Heurck need to adhere to. For high-visibility clothing, the European Union sets the standard and determines most of the regulations.
The regulations set by the European Union determine two of the most important aspects of high-visibility clothing: colour and reflective material. Three colours are specified: yellow, orange and red. The colours of high-visibility clothing are most important during the daylight, as they allow the wearer to stand out from their surroundings because of their brightness.
The second aspect is the reflective materials that are vital after dark. The light that hits these materials - say, a car’s headlights or a street light - bounces back, ensuring the wearer’s safety. Even the placement of the reflective material is determined to ensure the wearer can be visible from every perspective.
Besides these two factors, the European Union also created standards for colour fastness, dimensional stability, strength and water vapour resistance.
Whenever a worker needs a certain type of protective clothing to ensure their safety, the employer is required to provide it. Employers must consider the specific work conditions of their employees. That includes the weather, visibility, environment, machinery and so on.
In addition to that, employers should also keep high-vis workwear in good condition. That doesn’t just mean keeping it clean and in one piece. It also means you need to have a place to store the clothing while it’s not in use.
In a final instance, the employer must educate and supervise. Give employees the proper instructions and training so they can use the high-vis workwear correctly. That means they also need to be made aware of the risks they will be facing and the reason why they are required to wear high-visibility workwear.
Make sure you buy protective clothing from a manufacturer who is aware of all the requirements and ensures their clothing is up to par. Look out for certifications, clothing marked with ‘CE’ or this pictogram:
The X represents the class of conspicuity. It will show a number from one to three that indicates the minimum areas of materials that make the wearer stand out. Depending on the risks your employees face, you’ll need a lower (1) or higher (3) amount of conspicuity.
The Y represents the performance of the reflective material. When headlights hit the reflective material in a dark environment, class 2 clothing will be more visible than Class 1.
Our customers return to us because we deliver quality and our clothing is manufactured to meet international standards. That’s why our clothing is CE-certified. Our clothing also carries the pictogram shown above.
We can guarantee optimal visibility in all lighting conditions and in all kinds of weather. Modern textile technology such as GORE-TEX combined with a perfect fit provides comfort and flexibility regardless of work or weather, allowing you and your employees to stay safe and focus on work.
Would you like to learn more about our high-visibility workwear or are you required to wear it because of your profession? Have a look at our high-vis clothing in the online shop. Or feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all. We’d be happy to help.