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High Visibility Vests

Last updated: October 27, 2018

What Does High Visibility Vests Mean?

High visibility vests are an article of PPE or safety clothing made of retroreflective materials. These are intended to provide visibility of the person wearing it in low day light or in the dark when illuminated by headlights of vehicles and mechanized equipment. The colors of these vests are of high contrast to the background colors and are distinct. The distinct characteristic of the vests ensure quick detection of the wearer, or avoiding actions by others during a rescue operation or an imminent accident.

Safeopedia Explains High Visibility Vests

High visibility vests are worn by people engaged in road, rail, and building constructions, in ports, airports, shipyards, dockyards, hangers, fire services, search and rescue, emergency and utility services and in bad weather or low visibility etc.. They are also worn by cyclists, motor cyclists, traffic polices and workers who work on or near roads. High visibility vests are found in bright flame buoyant colors such as yellow, light yellowish green, orange or red, which are easily discernible and normally have reflective stripes, insignia, or letters printed on them.

EN ISO 20471:2013 specifies detailed requirements for high visibility clothing such as design, requirements for background and combined-performance retroreflective materials, photometric and physical performance requirements for retroreflective materials and care labeling. EN 471:2003 is the European standard for high-visibility clothing specifications.

There are three levels of protection:

  • Class 1 – Lowest visibility level
  • Class 2 – Intermediary visibility level
  • Class 3 – Highest level of visibility
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Synonyms

High Visibility Vest

Reflective Vest

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