PPE Compliance Is a Culture Problem as Much as a Policy Problem
A mid-sized construction firm operating across Yorkshire had a persistent problem: site supervisors were spending valuable time each morning reminding workers to wear their hi-vis vests. The vests in use were generic, unbranded high-street purchases. Workers treated them as interchangeable and disposable — easy to “forget” in the van or leave at home.
The HSE site manager for the firm reached out to Customised Workwear with an interesting hypothesis: “I think if the hi-vis had our logo on it and looked like it was part of our identity rather than a cheap afterthought, people would take more ownership of it.”
The Workwear Solution
We supplied the firm’s 35-person site team with ENISO 20471 Class 2 certified hi-vis vests and a separate set of hi-vis softshell jackets for managers and foremen. All garments were embroidered with the company logo on the back in black, and the individual’s role (e.g., “Site Manager,” “Operative”) on the front left chest.
The key change from their previous setup: these were now individually assigned garments. Each worker received their own vest and jacket. Their name was on the internal label. They were responsible for it.
The Outcome: Compliance Improved, Arguments Reduced
Three months into using the new embroidered workwear, the HSE manager conducted a spot count of hi-vis compliance during morning site start. Previously, compliance checks showed an average of 71% wearing rate without prompting. After the branded workwear rollout, this figure rose to 94% — with no morning reminder required in most cases.
“When it’s your vest with your name in it and the company logo on the back, it’s not just PPE anymore. It’s your kit. Nobody leaves their kit behind.”
Secondary Benefit: Brand Visibility on Public Sites
Many of the firm’s sites were on public roads or visible from residential areas. With the company name and logo on the back of 35 hi-vis vests moving around a busy site, the brand was visible to hundreds of passing vehicles daily. Two new domestic enquiries in the three months following rollout came from people who had seen the team working.
Branded workwear bundles in construction environments serve double duty: safety compliance and passive marketing. Contact us to discuss your site’s requirements.