High visibility clothing in summer – necessary or exaggerated?
High visibility clothing is absolutely essential for all workplaces in which the visibility of employees is of great importance – regardless of whether they work in the construction industry, road construction or waste management. It helps to avoid being overlooked and ensures that employees are recognised by others in good time. This means that high visibility clothing can save lives in an emergency. This is also the reason behind companies being obliged to provide their employees with HiVis clothing where this is stipulated in the risk assessment. Every company is required to draw up a risk assessment in accordance with paragraph 5 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and comply with the associated requirements.
It doesn’t seem necessary to wear high visibility clothing when the days are light for longer, but this is a misconception and can come with serious consequences. High visibility clothing is of crucial importance at any time of day or year. It ensures high visibility, no matter what the weather or light conditions are like. This is achieved by their luminous neon colours and silver reflective strips. The reflective strips enhance visibility in dark environments, while the neon colours reveal their luminous potential during the day.
The impressive radiance of neon colours stems from a unique property: they emit more visible light than they absorb. This means that they convert the short-wave blue component of daylight into light of a longer wavelength. What was initially a dark blue is then generally transformed into lighter colours such as blue-green, yellow or red. This makes the colours glow more brightly and are clearly visible even from a greater distance. You are therefore much easier to recognise on a sunny day than with a white T-shirt.
UV and high visibility protection effectively combined
Heat exposure in summer also plays a major role in addition to visibility. The material is crucial when selecting high visibility clothing for the summer. Workwear with integrated UV protection holds the great benefit of evenly blocking out the sun’s rays and also providing complete coverage in areas that are difficult to reach when applying sun cream.
Aim for breathable fabrics that maximise air circulation. Lightweight, moisture transporting materials such as polyester with mesh inserts make a good choice to maximise comfort while complying with safety requirements. Some manufacturers offer high visibility clothing with special cooling properties. These garments feature technologies that can help regulate body temperature and efficiently dissipate perspiration.
It’s also worth choosing high visibility clothing with a loose fit to allow better air circulation. Tight-fitting clothing may limit freedom of movement and accumulate heat. By contrast, a loose fit helps the body to cool down and offers greater comfort during work in summer.
Would you like more detailed information about UV and high visibility protection or specific product recommendations? If so, our specially produced high visibility protection brochure will be of help. Alternatively, why not arrange an individual consultation with us to ensure the best possible protection for your employees?