The need for hi-vis
Why should my team wear a custom printed hi-vis? What do different specifications of hi-vis mean? Why does my team need hi-visibility workwear?
These common questions are at the forefront of the conversations surrounding personalised hi-vis clothing. Here at MyWorkwear, we understand the importance of a hi-vis uniform and its significance when it comes to the safety of your team.
Hi-visibility garments are a staple of everyday workwear in multiple industries, such as construction and manufacturing. Hi-vis clothing is essential to keep you and your team safe and seen in hazardous working environments. With their neon appearance and reflective materials, hi-vis clothing can ensure your team is visible in some of the most dangerous working conditions. But with the evergrowing nature of health and safety, alongside the sometimes confusing hi-vis regulations, navigating the world of hi-visibility clothing can be daunting.
Hi-Vis Specifications
There are many different types of hi-vis specifications, including the ISO 20471 standard. This standard specifies the testing needed for hi-vis clothing to ensure it’s suitable for use. Hi-visibility clothing should signal the wearer’s presence in any lighting conditions and the ISO 20471 standard is in place to ensure your garments are efficient at doing this. Any garment that is compliant with the ISO 20417 standard will have this displayed on its label.
However, this standard alone doesn’t tell you which of these garments is required for you and your business. Therefore, once the hi-visibility clothing has been labelled as compliant it will then be assigned a classification – class 1, 2 or 3. These classes categorise the garments based on their effectiveness and level of visibility in different environments.
Class 1: Low-Level Protection
Suitable for low-risk and low-impact areas of work, e.g. parking attendants, and festival volunteers.
0.14m² of fluorescent material
0.140m² of retro-reflective material
Class 2: Intermediate Level Protection
Suitable around moderate-risk working environments, e.g. working near moving vehicles under 40mph.
0.50m² of fluorescent material
0.13m² of retro-reflective material
Class 3: Highest Level of Protection
Highest level of visibility, required for people working on or near motorways/dual carriageways.
0.80m² of fluorescent material
0.20m² of fluorescent material
On the same label in your hi-vis clothing that displays the ISO 20471 standard, you will find the class number that it falls under.
However, you can adapt the classification of your hi-vis items by wearing multiple garments at once. For example, if you were to wear a class 2 hi-vis vest and a class 2 pair of trousers they may potentially become a class 3 ensemble. But to be sure your ensemble meets a certain classification, check out some of our previous blogs where we discuss what hi-vis colours your team should be wearing and hi-vis workwear: the ultimate safety essential.
Hi-vis Garments On The Market Today
Gone are the days of needing branded hi-vis clothing, but only having a couple of hi-vis vests to choose from. In modern-day workwear, there are many different pieces of hi-visibility clothing available, which ensure the safety and comfort of all your staff.
Hi-visibility clothing was historically known to be ill-fitting and uncomfortable, especially for women. Brands like Result and Yoko have changed the game by creating hi-visibility workwear in ladies’ fits. These are usually shorter in the torso and manufactured to be more comfortable for women to wear.
Ill-fitting workwear can restrict your staff’s movement and potentially reduce productivity due to discomfort. But, being inclusive in your workwear will allow you to cater to the comfort of every member of your staff, preventing any decrease in productivity.
Furthermore, reduced productivity can also be caused by your workwear if your uniform is not adaptable to different weather conditions.
From trousers to vests to sweatshirts, your workwear needs to have hi-visibility on every layer to suit all weather conditions.
Nobody wants an extra layer of clothing on a hot day, so why not look at a branded hi-vis t-shirt? We love the Pro RTX High Visibility T-Shirt for a light to medium-weight t-shirt. It’s perfect for your branding to stand out, whilst your team is easily visible.
With unpredictable wet weather, your team will also need to stay dry with waterproof trousers. But they need to be compliant with the rules and regulations of their site. Then would be the perfect time to include hi-visibility trousers into your uniform. One of our favourites is the Portwest Hi-Vis Rain Trousers, with their extremely waterproof and lightweight fabric they are a great workwear addition for your team to be able to protect themselves from bad weather conditions, whilst still being safe.
Finally, the temperature has dropped and now your team needs to stay warm and dry, whilst not covering their hi-vis. But layering your old hi-vis vest over a thick raincoat can easily restrict your team’s movement. So why not try a hi-visibility jacket like the Yoko Fontaine Storm Jacket? This jacket is not only waterproof and windproof but has a removable soft touch pile lining that will keep your team warm throughout the worst weather conditions.
Branding On Hi-Visibility Workwear
No matter what level of hi-visibility you need for your workwear, it’s a huge benefit to make sure that each garment is customised with your brand, logo or slogan. Here at MyWorkwear, we can print onto your hi-vis clothing to ensure your branding is not missed. Printing is the best customisation option for your hi-vis garments as your logo will be waterproof, maintaining the longevity of your branded workwear.
Our Top Brand Recommendations
Here at MyWorkwear, we pride ourselves on our expertise in the products and brands we offer. Here are our favourite brands who specialise in hi-visibility workwear:
ProRTX
Excellent quality products for excellent pricing. They are a brilliant staple brand for your hi-visibility workwear.
Why ProRTX?
11 essential hi-vis garment staples to help you build your hi-vis uniform.
Adaptable garments that can be altered to suit any weather conditions.
Inclusive sizing charts.
Check out some of our favourite ProRTX garments:
Regatta
Known for their outdoor clothing, Regatta also offers a brilliant hi-vis range, with a wide collection of garment types for you to choose from.
Why Regatta?
Well-known for their great quality and durable garments.
Innovators in smart fabrics, including thermoguard and ISOTEX10000.
Sustainable hi-visibility garment options.
Check out some of our favourite Regatta garments:
Yoko
A premium brand that offers a wide range of hi-visibility and colour options.
Why Yoko?
Largest hi-vis colour range on the market.
Inclusive sizing range, from Small to 6XL.
Specific ladies hi-vis clothing range.
Multiple versions of the classic hi-vis vest, there’s one for everyone.
For your extra hi-visibility requirements, they even have hi-vis accessories.
Check out some of our favourite Yoko garments:
Portwest
A well-known hi-visibility workwear brand that has specialised in PPE for 120 years.
Why Portwest?
Largest range of hi-visibility garment options on todays market.
Extensive sizing range, from XXS to 8XL.
Womenswear range, so all of your team can be comfortable in their hi-vis workwear.
Check out some of our favourite Portwest garments:
Upgrade Your Hi-Vis Workwear In 2025
So, now you are ready to start upgrading your hi-visibility workwear!
By investing in hi-vis clothing that meets your classification requirements, is inclusive to all of your staff and is branded with your logo on every layer – you will be able to make the best choices for your new hi-visibility workwear in 2025.
Start your new workwear journey by visiting the hi-vis clothing section on our website.