Why Are High-Visibility Garments Critically Important?
High-visibility (hi-vis) workwear is essential for workers operating in low-light, high-traffic, or outdoor hazard zones. The purpose of hi-vis garments is to:
- Ensure workers are visible from a distance,
- Reduce the risk of vehicle or machinery impact,
- Improve driver perception during nighttime operations,
- Maintain strong contrast in foggy, rainy, or dark environments.
This visibility performance is classified under the EN ISO 20471 standard.
What Do the EN ISO 20471 Classes Represent?
The standard divides high-visibility garments into three main classes. These classes are determined by the amount of fluorescent background fabric and retroreflective tape on the garment.
Class 1 — Lowest Level of Visibility
Where Is It Used?
- Low-risk environments
- Low vehicle speed areas
- Indoor forklift zones
- Warehouse operations
Advantages
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Often seen as waistcoats or sleeveless models
Typical Users
- Warehouse employees
- Workers near forklift zones
- Parking and low-traffic facility staff Class 2 — Medium Visibility (Most Common Choice)
Where Is It Used?
- Moderate traffic exposure
- Areas with 30–60 km/h vehicle speeds
- Daylight or dusk operations
- Most construction sites
Advantages
- Balanced comfort and visibility
- Ideal for construction, roadside work, logistics
Typical Users
- Logistics and loading staff
- Construction personnel
- Roadside service teams Class 3 — Highest Level of Visibility
Where Is It Used?
- High-traffic areas
- Areas with speeds above 60 km/h
- Night operations
- Fog, rain, or low-visibility conditions
Advantages
- Full-body coverage (torso + arms + legs)
- Maximum reflective area
- Highest long-distance detectability
Typical Users
- Motorway maintenance crews
- Overnight road work teams
- Airport apron staff
- Heavy machinery zones
Technical Differences Between Classes
FeatureClass 1Class 2Class 3Background fabricLowMediumHighRetroreflective areaLowestMoreHighestWork environmentLow-risk indoorStandard outdoorHigh-risk / nighttimeDetection distanceLowestMediumHighestTypical garmentWaistcoatVest, T-shirt, jacketFull jacket + trousers or coverall
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Class 3 garments highlight full limb movement, which is essential for traffic safety.
Five Golden Rules for Choosing the Right Class
Determine traffic speed
- 0–30 km/h → Class 1
- 30–60 km/h → Class 2
- 60+ km/h or nighttime → Class 3
2. Evaluate lighting conditions
- Fog, rain, or darkness → Always choose one class higher.
3. Assess machinery activity
- Cranes, loaders, forklifts → Class 2 or 3
4. Consider working hours
- Even one hour of night work → Class 3
5. Standardize within teams
- The same team should wear the same class to avoid confusion.
Which Class Should Each Industry Use?
Construction
- Daytime → Class 2
- Nighttime → Class 3
Logistics & Warehousing
- Indoor warehouse → Class 1
- Loading/unloading → Class 2
Road Maintenance & Traffic Work
- Urban daytime → Class 2
- Highways or night work → Class 3
Airport Apron
- Always → Class 3
Petrochemical & Refinery
- Outdoor general operations → Class 2
- Critical hazard zones → Class 3
Key Points When Selecting High-Visibility Workwear
- Must comply with EN ISO 20471
- Fluorescent fabric should be durable and abrasion-resistant
- High-quality stitching, zippers, and reflective tapes
- No visibility loss after washing
- Multi-pocket designs for radios and tools
- Thermal hi-vis options for winter
- Waterproof hi-vis garments for rainy conditions
Common Mistakes
- Choosing Class 3 unnecessarily for indoor areas (overheating risk)
- Working at night with Class 2 (insufficient visibility)
- Damaging reflective tapes with ironing
- Ignoring washing instructions (color fading)
- Mixing different visibility classes within the same team
Conclusion
High-visibility workwear significantly reduces the risk of accidents by increasing workers’ detectability. Understanding the class differences in the EN ISO 20471 standard ensures that every industry selects the safest and most appropriate hi-vis garment for its operations.
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