Hi-Vis Clothing: Everything You Need to Know

Bright, imposing, and colourful but what is Hi-vis clothing for other than being a bold fashion statement? It’s a critical piece of equipment to help with your safety across multiple industries. Here we’ll answer some of the most important questions to do with Hi-vis including where it’s needed and which colours are the most effective.

What is hi-vis clothing?

Using fluorescent materials combined with reflective strips, Hi-Vis clothing is designed to make the user highly visible during both day and night. This helps reduce the risk of accidents in low-light or high-risk environments.

Who needs to wear hi-vis clothing?

Construction workers (especially roadside crews and heavy equipment operators)
Highway maintenance staff
Warehouse and logistics workers
Railway and airport ground crews
Utility and emergency services personnel
Cyclists, motorcyclists and other motorists (for road safety)

Anyone working near moving vehicles, heavy machinery, or in environments with poor visibility, should wear hi-vis.

In what environments should hi-vis be worn?

Hi-vis is critical in:

Dark/low-light conditions (e.g. dawn, dusk, or nighttime)
Bad weather (e.g. fog, rain, or snow)
Busy worksites (e.g. construction zones, warehouses, shipping ports)
Roadside environments (where drivers need to see workers quickly)

How does hi-vis clothing actually work?

Hi-vis relies on two elements:

Fluorescent colours – Bright yellows, oranges, and greens absorb and emit light, making the clothing stand out in daylight and at nighttime.
Reflective strips – These help by shining brightly when a light is flashed on them making people wearing them even more easy to see.

Together, they ensure visibility in nearly all conditions making the wearer visible to anyone curtailing any huge risk of the wearer being in danger.

What colours are available in hi-vis clothing?

Yellow
Orange
Green (lime)

These colours are chosen because they contrast strongly against most natural and urban backgrounds.

Green hi-vis vs. orange hi-vis: which is better?

Contrast with surroundings – Orange stands out better in natural settings such as grass, trees, and foliage, where lime green may blend in due to its how close it looks to the nature around it.
Road safety – Orange has been historically used for road construction, signalling, and hazard warnings, making it the notorious/standard recognisable safety colour to drivers worldwide.
Industry standards – Many highway and rail projects specifically require orange hi-vis for consistency and recognition.

That’s not to say green hi-vis is ineffective—it’s widely used in warehouses and urban settings. But if you’re working outdoors, especially near traffic, orange offers the best visibility and safety recognition.

Our Kapriol Hi-Vis collection utilises the orange colour. Kapriol Hi-Vis Workwear is available from QLT Supplies with Free Next Working Day Delivery!

Are there regulations for hi-vis clothing?

Yes. Many regions follow standards such as:

EN ISO 20471 (Europe) – Specifies visibility standards for workers in high-risk areas.
ANSI/ISEA 107 (USA) – Defines performance requirements for hi-vis garments.

Employers are legally responsible for providing compliant hi-vis to workers in environments where visibility is a safety factor.

What types of hi-vis clothing exist?

Hi-vis comes in many forms to suit different types of work environments:

The right type depends on the weather, job site, and safety regulations.

Can hi-vis clothing lose effectiveness?

Wash according to manufacturer instructions.
Replace clothing when colours fade, or reflective strips peel away.
Inspect regularly for damage.

Final Thoughts

Hi-vis clothing saves lives by ensuring workers and road users are clearly seen. Whether you are on a construction site, cycling at dusk, or directing traffic, wearing the right hi-vis clothing and choosing the right colour can make all the difference. Check out our Quality Hi-Vis workwear at QLT Supplies, for all your Hi-Vis needs, with Free Next Working Day Delivery and promotions/offers available.