If you&#;re unfamiliar with why most safety clothing and PPE come in such bright colors, you should know that there are actually numerous reasons. The important thing to remember about all these colors is that their main function is to make sure that the wearer is easily identifiable against a whole variety of backdrops. Even though we know this, why do we still insist that workers wear these very specific colors to identify themselves?

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You may be a worker who regularly wears high-visibility safety clothing on the job or only need to don it when you head out to the work site. Either way, it&#;s good to familiarize yourself with these colors and how they help protect you in dangerous work areas. We&#;re providing you with a guide to high-visibility colors and their uses. This way, you can easily identify which color is appropriate and why you might want to wear one over the others.

Why Do We Need Specific Colors?

The conditions that call for workers to wear high-visibility safety clothes can vary quite a bit, but there are some general things to keep in mind. Usually, this kind of hi-vis clothing is necessary for working near fast-moving traffic or heavy, human-operated machinery. When we consider these kinds of environments, which tend to have more muted and earth-toned colors, it starts to make sense why hi-vis clothing uses such bright and highly saturated hues as identification.

Hi-vis clothing needs to be able to draw a human&#;s eye to it and contrast against its backdrop enough to stick out. This is why hi-vis safety clothing usually comes in very bright yellows, oranges, and reds. These bright colors catch our eyes&#; attention easily and help signal our brains to pay attention to what we&#;re looking at. They also contrast heavily with the colors that are common on the vast majority of work sites.

Main Colors Used for High-Visibility Clothing

Now that we understand why they&#;re so important, we can look at each high-visibility color and its uses individually. While modern work sites might have many kinds of high-visibility clothing, there are still some colors that dominate the looks of the workers there. Fluorescent yellow green, fluorescent orange red, and fluorescent red are all colors you frequently see in a hazardous work zone. This is because they&#;re colors that have approval from both ANSI and ISEA. We&#;ll look a little deeper into each color to determine what people usually use it for.

Fluorescent Yellow Green

The most visible color by ANSI standards is fluorescent yellow green. Officially, clothes with this hue must have a total luminance factor of at least 70 percent to receive classification as true fluorescent yellow green. You&#;ll often see fluorescent yellow green as part of the hi-vis clothing roadway workers wear, and there&#;s actually a very important reason for this. Roadway work often incorporates a lot of the color orange, such as in orange traffic cones or orange painted stripes on signs. There&#;s a need to create further contrast between these inanimate objects and workers, especially in areas near fast-moving traffic. That&#;s why fluorescent yellow green is the go-to choice for hi-vis clothing.

This color also contrasts heavily with urban environments, which tend to have lots of grays, browns, and blacks. This makes workers even easier to see. However, because of the greenish tint to this yellow, you usually won&#;t see it on workers who work near more natural or green environments like parks.

Fluorescent Orange Red

Perhaps the next most common color of hi-vis safety clothing is fluorescent orange red. In this case, the fluorescent orange-red clothing is actually attempting to evoke the same response as when you see orange traffic cones or road signs. Our brains know that color very well and recognize it as an indication of a hazard or something else to be more aware of. As we mentioned earlier, you won&#;t often find this color among roadway workers because someone driving very quickly could mistake the color for something more inanimate.

You find this color on construction sites very often, though. Construction sites rarely have bright colors that would allow this hue to blend in. This makes workers safer around heavy machinery that a human might operate. It can be difficult to notice your surroundings when controlling large construction machinery, and this color helps our brains pick out other humans much faster than we might otherwise.

Fluorescent Red

Pure fluorescent red is a newer addition to the standards that ANSI has put forth. But it&#;s actually quite common in some European countries. Fluorescent red is a good choice for safety clothing when workers operate in low-light conditions, such as around dawn or dusk. Fluorescent red sticks out very well in these dim conditions and draws our eyes much faster than normal. However, you should always pair it with enough reflective material to truly stand out as you should.

Black: Can It Be Hi-Vis?

Surprisingly enough, you can actually incorporate black into some hi-vis clothing. It requires some careful design choices. There must be fluorescent material and retroreflective material present together on the clothes. If you have both of these, you can tweak black gear enough to meet ANSI and ISEA standards. Despite this, black hi-vis clothing is still only appropriate for lower traffic areas. However, it does allow for safety clothing that looks better overall when you can wear it.

Fluorescent vs. Retroreflective Material

Both fluorescent and retroreflective material are crucial to hi-vis safety clothing, no matter what color it might be. Fluorescent material makes us more visible by taking some of the ultraviolet light that humans can&#;t see normally and making it visible to our eyes through special pigments in the clothing. Fluorescence needs natural sunlight, so it works better on hi-vis clothing worn during the day. Retroreflective material, on the other hand, returns light to the source from where it came. This material makes more light return to our eyes, even in low-light conditions, which increases visibility during nighttime work.

When you want to take your own high-visibility clothing to the next level, whether it&#;s just for you or your entire company, you should head to SafetyShirtz. We offer custom hi-vis clothing to make your vision a reality. Don&#;t settle for boring hi-vis clothes; wear what you like and stay safe at the same time with customized hi-vis gear from SafetyShirtz.

What Is the Best High-Visibility Color to Wear For Work?

By ShirtSpace | Jun 06,  |  Updated Jun 07,

In industries where safety is a top priority, high-visibility clothing plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of workers. High-visibility colors are neons designed to make individuals more easily seen in various work environments. In this article, we will explore the importance of high-vis colors, delve into the top choices for industrial settings, discuss how to choose the right color for your industry and provide information on where to purchase high-quality hi-vis shirts. ShirtSpace, a trusted workwear provider, offers a wide range of high-visibility styles that meet the necessary safety standards.

Understanding High-Visibility Colors

Hoodies pictured: Hanes P170 EcoSmart® - Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt in &#;safety pink&#;, &#;safety green&#; and &#;safety orange&#;.

High-vis colors are vibrant hues that stand out against most backgrounds, making workers more visible in low-light conditions, inclement weather, or busy work environments. These colors are commonly used in construction, roadwork, transportation, and warehouse operations. High-visibility clothing aims to alert others to the presence of individuals, minimizing the risk of accidents and ensuring a safer work environment.

Top High-Visibility Colors for Industrial Settings

Shirts pictured: Hanes WW110 in &#;safety green&#;, &#;safety orange&#; and &#;safety pink&#;.

You may think high visibility includes all bright, neon colors, but that is not always the case. Certain colors are suited for particular industries, so you must understand what each color signifies and choose accordingly for your industry and planned use. 

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What Colors Are Considered High-Visibility? 

Several colors are recognized as high-visibility options, each offering distinct advantages in different environments. These colors include safety yellow (sometimes called safety green, but it is distinctly different from &#;neon green&#;), safety orange, and bright red. Safety pink is another high-vis color, but it is not ANSI-ISEA or OSHA-compliant.

Keep reading to learn about high-vis colors often used for workplace uniforms and settings requiring safety gear. 

Safety Yellow

Shirt pictured: Hanes W110 in &#;safety green&#;.

Fluorescent or safety yellow is one of the most widely recognized high-vis colors. It provides excellent contrast against many backgrounds and is highly visible even in low-light conditions. This color is often preferred for its conspicuousness and suitability across various industries. It is also used often for roadside athletic activities. 

Safety Orange

Shirt pictured: CornerStone CS200 ANSI 107 Class 2 Mesh Tee in &#;safety orange&#;.

Fluorescent or safety orange is another popular high-visibility color that offers excellent contrast and visibility. It is particularly effective in environments where there may be potential hazards or risks involved. The bright orange hue stands out well against different backgrounds, making it ideal for construction sites and roadwork.

Safety Pink

Shirt pictured: Hanes W110 in &#;safety pink&#;.

Fluorescent, or safety pink, is a high-visibility color growing in popularity. More and more states are allowing safety pink as a color suitable for hunting gear. It&#;s also used for athletic events such as fundraising walks and runs. Remember that although safety pink can be used for hunting and other professional settings, it is not included in the list of OSHA high-vis colors.

Bright Red

Image credit: Baloncici of Getty Images

Bright red is a vibrant color that enhances visibility. While it may not be as common as fluorescent yellow or orange, it can be advantageous in certain situations. Red is often utilized in industries where the presence of workers needs to be highly visible, such as firefighting or emergency response. An example of this red can be seen with the Kishigo B150-156 EV Series® Enhanced Visibility 3 Pocket Mesh Vest.

Choosing the Right Hi-Vis Color for Your Industry

Hoodie pictured: CornerStone CSF01 Enhanced Visibility Fleece Pullover Hoodie in &#;safety yellow&#;.

You may now be wondering, which high-vis color do I need? Well, that depends. Selecting the appropriate high-visibility color for your industry is crucial to ensure maximum visibility and compliance with safety regulations. Sometimes the high-vis color depends on what workwear or PPE (personal protection equipment) you need. Also, who enforces these safety standards? The American National Standards Institute enforces ANSI/ISEA 107 - standards, and OSHA, that&#;s who! So it&#;s best always to play it safe and comply with laws for legal protection and your own safety! 

Requirements can range all the way from a simple high-vis t-shirt to a mesh vest or even heavy-duty coats and coveralls. Factors to consider include the work environment, lighting conditions, and specific industry standards.

For another example, the safety jacket color code in construction often mandates the use of fluorescent orange or safety yellow. And some industries require reflective elements to make the workwear even more visible. It is essential to familiarize yourself with the OSHA-approved high-visibility colors and any industry-specific requirements before choosing.

What is the Best High-Visibility Color?

There is no high-vis color that is better than another. It depends on what industry you work in. Always check what your employer requires for on-the-job safety apparel.

• Safety yellow and orange are the most commonly used high-vis colors that we see in industries such as: construction, roadwork, traffic control, transportation, emergency services, utility work and maintenance, railways, aviation, mining, heavy machine operation, manufacturing, warehouse work, and landscaping. 

• Bright red can also be used in most industries, but we see it most often worn by emergency personnel.

Hat pictured: Big Accessories BA661 Safety Trucker Cap in &#;neon yellow/neon orange:&#;

Where to Buy High-Quality Hi-Vis Shirts & More

ShirtSpace is a reputable supplier of high-quality neon shirts and workwear. They offer various high-visibility styles that meet the necessary safety standards and come in various colors, including fluorescent yellow, orange, and red. Whether you need short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirts, jackets, or vests, ShirtSpace provides a diverse selection to cater to different industry needs.

Shirt pictured: CornerStone CS202 in &#;safety yellow&#;.

Conclusion

When choosing the best high-visibility color for work, factors such as visibility, industry standards, and specific work environments play a significant role. Fluorescent yellow, orange, and red are among the most widely recognized high-visibility colors, offering distinct advantages in different settings.

Remember to familiarize yourself with OSHA-approved high-vis colors and any industry-specific requirements to ensure compliance. ShirtSpace is an excellent source for high-quality hi-vis shirts and workwear, providing a comprehensive selection of styles and colors to meet your needs and keep you safe on the job.

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