High-visibility workwear is a staple across all departments, whether it be hi-vis waistcoats or a full kit-out. Often, we see waste departments that are facing problems with their current PPE. One of the biggest problems we see isn’t necessarily ‘bad PPE’; more often than not it’s that the PPE they currently have isn’t right for their workers, who, as a result, are not wearing it. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as:
- PPE was bought in bulk or based on low price instead of suitability for the job
- PPE is old and worn out
- PPE is not being worn because workers have not received education on why it is required.
Regardless of why, if your team aren’t wearing the correct safety workwear, they aren’t protected, and you could be liable should an accident happen.
While this isn’t always the case, it is well worth reviewing how your workers are getting on with their current workwear before you begin the process of buying new products.
At LION, we know there is no such thing as a bad product. There are only better or worse-fit products.
Understanding that each company has different priorities when buying PPE and Safety Workwear is what helps us to supply products that are right for their teams from the beginning.
When you find the best-fit products for your workers, they wear their PPE, remain safe and stay compliant.
But, in an oversaturated market, it can be hard to know how to even begin searching for best-fit products.
Below, we’ve broken down the top considerations when choosing high-visibility workwear in waste departments to help you make decisions that are better for your workers and your peace of mind.
How Appearance and Fit Affect the Performance of your High-Visibility Workwear
The appearance and fit of a garment are important for the end user. While comfort is a big factor in why workers are unhappy with their kit, it is also important to consider the aesthetic of the products: do the garments you use to represent the image of your brand that you want them to? If not, it may be time to look at different products.
A great example of this is two-tone high-visibility gear. If you want a sharper and more modern-looking workforce, two-tone could be a good fit for you: the darker colour hides dirt and the colour combinations look smarter and more modern than plain high-visibility workwear.
The main benefit of paying attention to fit is comfort. From our experience, we’ve found that employees who are given workwear that fits them are more likely to wear it, and are then safe and compliant.
In today’s era, we recognise that the younger generations of the workforce have a preference for neater, closer-fit workwear ranges that are comfortable and look smart.
Should I go for Orange or Yellow High-Visibility Workwear?
Speaking only in terms of legislation and EN20471 standard, there is no benefit to using orange over yellow hi-vis or vice versa. This is purely down to personal preference.
The only industry that specifies colour is the rail industry, and this is because the RIS-3279-TOM standard states a very specific colour range of hi-vis orange to ensure compliance.
What are the Benefits of Two-Tone High-Visibility Workwear?
There is no stipulation as to whether you should be in two-tone or not, it is purely a choice.
However, there are some benefits to two-tone uniforms. When pairing a high visibility colour with a darker colour, such as navy, garments typically will have a darker colour around the waist and lower arm. This is where traditional high-visibility garments tend to look dirtier quicker, so the navy hides the dirt, thus prolonging the item’s life (less visible dirt means less frequent washing resulting in fading).
Another perceived benefit to two-tone garments is that flies (particularly wasps) are less attracted to orange and less attracted still to two-tone orange and navy/grey/black garments.
Can a Two-Tone High-Visibility Garment Still be Class 3?
Yes! While this varies with garment type (long sleeve vs short sleeve, for example), a two-tone garment can meet Class 1, 2 and 3, depending on the ratio of the navy (or darker colour) to hi-vis.
Who should not wear two-tone high-visibility workwear?
While there are not any specific industries where a person should not wear two-tone, the choice to wear two-tone is driven by the individual employer. Some companies like two-tone, while others don’t; it is down to preference and buying habits.
We find that the most common industry that opts out of two-tone garments is the rail industry. Though there is no written legislation against two-tone garments in this sector, they tend to stick to orange only.
What Standards do Waterproof High-Visibility Garments Have to Meet?
The EN 343:2019 standard deals with both water penetration resistance and breathability. Products are then rated from one to three in these categories (3 as the highest level of protection and 1 as the lowest).
| Rating | Water Penetration Resistance | Breathability |
| 1 | Minimum level of rain protection | Not classified as breathable under EN343 |
| 2 | Intermediate rain protection | Intermediate level of breathability |
| 3 | Highest level of rain protection | Highest level of breathability |
Both of these factors are important to consider when selecting the best waterproof garments for your team.
Are they going to spend a significant portion of their day outside or in conditions where they will need to be protected from water penetration? Will they be doing work that takes physical effort that might require more breathability?
As always, high-visibility workwear must meet the ISO 20471:2013 standard that requires a garment to be capable of visually signalling the user’s presence, providing conspicuity of the wearer in any light condition when viewed by operators of vehicles during daylight conditions and under the illuminations of headlights in the dark.
Quality and Value versus Cost
You’ve probably bought PPE before that was cheap, and you’ve likely bought PPE that was expensive. Have you ever bought PPE that was bad value for money?
When we see customers who have had issues with value, they usually fit into one of these camps:
- I’m buying lower-cost PPE, but having to frequently replace it – I’m spending more money this way.
- I’m buying higher-cost PPE and it isn’t lasting – I could be spending less with a cheaper alternative more suited to the nature of the job.
Durability is important for some companies and job roles; if you can invest more upfront in a product that will last you three times as long as a cheaper alternative you’d have to replace twice as fast, why wouldn’t you invest and save your money there?
But, for some, lower-cost options are a much better fit – why invest in expensive workwear if it will be trashed by the end of the month?
This is where our better-fit/worse-fit model comes into play. We want you to get the best value for you and your team because that way you’re a happy customer with happy employees wearing whichever products are right for them.
Remember, there’s no such thing as a cheap product, just a right-fit product for the environment and workers.
When you have the right-fit products, regardless of price, you will find better value from them.
Do my Workers Need Ballistic Trousers?
If your operatives are in a street cleansing team or have any risk of coming into contact with sharps; yes.
Traditionally, a refuse collector would have had to pick up trash bags and handle garbage much more manually. Now, however, in a lot of circumstances, refuse collectors may not be handling rubbish directly, instead they are pushing a wheelie bin to a bin lorry. Does he need ballistic trousers then? Perhaps not. The decision here has to be down to what your safety department has specified by their Risk Assessment for the task on hand.
Please note: the market at present does not have any quality two-tone ballistic trousers. So, if there is a requirement for ballistics over a preference for two-tone, the level of protection should be a priority.
Classes: Which one do I Need to Buy to be Compliant?
High-Visibility standard ISO20471:2013 groups high-visibility garments into three classes based on the conspicuity provided. The classes dictate the minimum quantities of background and retro-reflective materials used to meet those classes.
The class of high-visibility workwear you need depends on the type of risk to workers. This is what determines the differing amounts of reflective tape and fluorescent material required.
The classes are as follows:
| Class | Class Description | Reflective Tape | Fluorescent Material | Example |
| 1 | Lowest level of visibility. | 0.10 sqm | 0.14 sqm | Hi-Vis trousers when worn separately to other hi-vis. |
| 2 | Intermediate level of visibility. | 0.13 sqm | 0.50 sqm | Hi-vis sleeveless vests. |
| 3 | Highest level of visibility. | 0.20 sqm | 0.80 sqm | Hi-vis jackets and sleeved vests. You can achieve Class 3 by wearing individual Class 3 garments. Wearing jointly certified products that make Class 3 based on the total area of reflective and fluorescent material. |
If you are unsure which garments meet which class of protection, LION can help you with that based on your requirements and/or the findings of your risk assessments.
Sustainable High-Visibility Workwear
LION believes that protecting our people should not come at the cost of the planet we share, and as such, the manufacturers we work with are all working towards sustainability initiatives, while our trusted partners are actively pioneering the way forward in sustainable PPE and safety workwear. We believe that by buying into sustainably sourced workwear ranges, we are making it easier for you to help your organisation achieve their sustainability goals.
Our trusted partner for high-visibility workwear is Leo Workwear. Their ecoviz range is made from recycled or sustainably sourced fabrics. All Leo EcoViz® products fully conform to ISO 20471 whilst constructed from fabrics derived either from recycled post-consumer clothing or recycled plastic bottles.
Why Trust LION to Supply your High-Visibility Workwear?
Specifications
We are ISO 9001:2015 and 14001:2015 accredited which means our products are specified correctly to keep you safe in your working environment.
Delivery Time for Branded Orders
We offer you a fantastic delivery service of branded workwear. We can ship branded orders in as little as 24 hours. Our branding team work around the clock so if you have any urgent shipments for any number of branded items we will turn these around fast.
Time for Non-Branded Orders
Order before 3:30 pm and receive next-day delivery, providing the products are in stock.
Sustainability
We take our commitment to the planet seriously. From ensuring our products are delivered with minimum impact on the environment to supplying products made from sustainable and recycled fabrics, we are your sustainability partner. You can have confidence in adding us to your supply chain knowing that we will add to your green credentials. We are on a journey to Zero Safety to landfill and included in this is our service to take back your workwear and PPE to repurpose them into something useful. Contact us today to get started on your sustainable journey with us!
Personal Account Management
You can find out who your account manager is by logging into the portal, or by calling 01324 474744 They will help you with any issues you face and advise you on the best products.
Sales Rep Visits
We currently have a team of business development reps who regularly visit our customers helping them with their workwear, PPE and safety requirements. If you would like to see your area sales rep, let us know, they’d be delighted to visit you!
Placing Orders
Reach out via our contact page, or order online at portal.lionsafety.co.uk. To purchase on our website you will have to create an account. Alternatively, you can phone or email us.
Customer Service
We have a team dedicated to providing you with the best possible customer experience. You will get your account manager to assist you with ordering or anything you might need help with. Our mission is to WOW you with fantastic personal service every time!
Products and Accreditation
We are ISO 9001:2015 and 14001:2015 accredited which means our quality and service can be wholly trusted. Any clothes can look good but we make sure that our workwear works well for you. Comfortable, safe and with the correct standards.
Branding
We can carry your brand across any of our corporate products and safety uniforms. From polo shirts to trousers, high-visibility workwear to corporate uniforms. Simply send us your logo in a JPEG or PDF format, and we’ll design and sample it for you to approve. Then we’ll complete and deliver your order. We can deliver one branded item or multiple branded items to thousands of staff in different locations.
What Will Working With LION Look Like For Me?
Anyone can buy and sell PPE and workwear, but it’s the companies that take the cause of ensuring workers go home safe each night seriously that you should trust with your workers. That’s why we’re focused on providing the highest level of service to our customers.
We may not be the cheapest, and you might see other suppliers slash our pricing, but nobody can offer the level of service that we provide.
Our devotion to continuous improvement for the customer means that we can guarantee:
- We’ll have a face and name behind every email and call.
- We’ll give you your account manager.
- We’ll deliver the right kit for your budget.
- We’ll give you a bespoke solution every time.
- We’ll make deliveries and returns a breeze.
- We’ll use our extensive network of contacts to ensure a seamless supply of stock.
With our high-visibility workwear, you can be sure that your team has the best-fitting and most comfortable uniforms on site.
If you’re ready to purchase your high-visibility workwear, set up an account with us today.
Do you already have an account with us and want to talk more about how to get the best fitting high visibility workwear for your team? Your account managers Ralph & Kelvin would be happy to talk with you about this in more detail.
