Hi-Vis Isn’t Just About Being Seen — It’s About Compliance
High-visibility workwear is a legal requirement in many UK working environments. Construction sites, road works, rail environments, and warehouse operations with vehicle movement all have specific hi-vis requirements set out in the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations. Failing to comply exposes your business to significant legal and financial risk.
But hi-vis workwear also varies enormously in quality, certification level, and suitability for different environments. This guide gives you the practical information you need to choose correctly.
Understanding ENISO 20471 Classes
All certified hi-vis workwear in the UK is classified under ENISO 20471. There are three classes:
- Class 1: Minimum coverage — suitable for low-risk environments like car parks and pedestrian areas. Typically waistcoats with limited retroreflective material.
- Class 2: Mid-level coverage — the most common class for construction sites, warehouses, and roadside work. Covers chest, back, and shoulders with retroreflective strips.
- Class 3: Highest coverage — required for motorway work, rail environments, and other high-speed traffic zones. Full garment coverage with sleeves and trouser retroreflective strips.
The class required for your environment should be confirmed with your site safety officer or the relevant regulatory guidance for your industry. When in doubt, Class 2 is the safe default for most UK worksites.
Hi-Vis Colours: Yellow vs Orange
Yellow (fluorescent yellow-green) is the most visible colour under daylight conditions and is the UK standard for most construction and roadside hi-vis workwear. Orange hi-vis is used in environments where yellow might be confused with road signage — typically rail environments and some airport operations. Most businesses should default to yellow unless their industry specifies otherwise.
Embroidery on Hi-Vis Workwear
Embroidered workwear on hi-vis garments requires careful attention to placement. ENISO 20471 specifies minimum areas of fluorescent and retroreflective material that must remain unobstructed. Embroidery on hi-vis garments must not cover or obscure the retroreflective strips or the required fluorescent panels.
We embroider hi-vis workwear daily, and every design is checked against certification requirements before production. Browse our hi-vis range in our workwear shop or contact us for compliance-checked embroidered hi-vis workwear.