If you’ve spent any time on a construction site, then you’ll have some idea of just how dangerous it can be. Moving machinery, tools and equipment standing around and of course workers busy with tasks all over the place. Some even on roofs, scaffolds, and cranes high above the ground.
One of the top features that ensure these workers are constantly seen by everyone else on the job site is their high-visibility shirts and vests. In some cases, these workwear items also boast the custom embroidery Sydney safety specialists recommend.
What is Hi-Viz Clothing?
Essentially, high visual workwear, commonly called Hi-Viz for short, refers to specially designed workwear that alerts other people of an individual’s presence, especially in bright light or dark conditions. The stand-out feature of this type of clothing is that it glows because retroreflective material has been used in the initial creation.
Why Hi-Viz Clothing is Always Beneficial
Hi-Viz clothing is an excellent way for employees or anyone working, walking, or riding a bike to remain visible, especially in high and low lighting conditions. In addition to this, there are a bunch of other benefits that make it a good idea to ensure your construction employees are wearing them.
1. Keeps Everyone Visible
As we’ve already mentioned, the primary reason why construction companies and other warehousing and industrial sectors enforce the use of Hi-Viz clothing is that it keeps everyone visible. This is especially crucial in instances where workers may be working in areas that aren’t well-lit.
Hi-Viz jackets, vests, and stripes make it harder for employees to blend in with their environment. Wearing these types of clothing will ensure that you and your team are visible to other employees, the public driving past, and of course anyone operating machinery in the area.
2. Minimises the Risk of an Accident
Whether your team is working on the side of a busy road or in a cordoned-off construction site, the use of Hi-Viz clothing will go a long way toward reducing a visibility-related accident. While this clothing won’t totally prevent accidents from happening, it will make employees and visitors to the site more visible to everyone else.
3. Ensures Workers are Safer During Different Weather Hazards
While most construction work generally takes place outside, it doesn’t mean you can simply down tools when it starts raining or the weather becomes overcast. Workers who work in bad weather conditions can often go unnoticed if they don’t wear special Hi-Viz clothing.
Specially designed Hi-Viz clothing makes it considerably easier for other workers, machine operators, passers-by, and visitors to see where your team is working. This is especially important if your employees aren’t working where everyone else is. The reflective features on Hi-Viz clothing have been crafted to stand out in rain, snow, as well as low lighting conditions.
4. A Wide Range of Options to Choose From
Another huge benefit of Hi-Viz clothing is that there’s a huge assortment of clothing types to choose from. This makes it much easier to find clothing especially suited to your job type and environment. The most common clothing types you will have access to include:
- Coveralls
- Jackets
- Vests
- Gloves
- Pants
- Headwear
In addition to this, most workwear suppliers offer Hi-Viz clothing in a range of different fluorescent colours that have been designed to contrast the average work environment. Typical colours include orange and bright yellow-green.
You can also have your company logo embroidered onto the workwear. The only criterion here is that the logo doesn’t cover the reflective strips as this may hamper their effectiveness. It’s worth noting that Hi-Viz clothing is super easy to keep clean. It’s as simple as using a mild detergent to hand or machine-wash them.
5. Easier to Find Employees in Case of Emergency
One of the greater benefits of having your employees wear Hi-Viz clothing is that they will be so much easier to find in the event of an accident. Employees trapped in a building, or under fallen rubble will be easier to see if they are wearing Hi-Viz clothing.
6. You’ll be Compliant With Australian Law
Australian law dictates that everyone working in the construction and safety industry must wear Hi-Viz clothing to make them visible to vehicles, machinery, and other employees. This means that wearing Hi-Viz clothing ensures that you and your business are compliant with local laws and regulations.
Typically, the following industries are required to wear Hi-Viz jackets or vests include the following:
- Construction workers (this includes secluded job sites and roadworks)
- Parking attendants
- Engineering projects
- Airport ground crews
- First responders such as firefighters and paramedics
- Road cleaners and general worker
Final Thoughts
Hi-Viz clothing is very beneficial to just about every industry in Australia. Employees wearing these types of clothing are not only easy to see but also easy to find in an emergency. Not only will you be keeping your employees safe, but you will also be adhering to the law about keeping your team visible no matter what environment or lightning condition they work in!
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