Wear and Care of Hi-Visibility Garments

In order to maintain conformity to EN 20471, hi-vis clothing needs to be worn correctly and be maintained in good condition to allow the hi-visibility fabric and retro reflective tape to function as intended.

As well as providing suitable clothing, employers must ensure all staff are properly trained on how to wear their garments and that workers understand the reasons for wearing hi-vis. They also need to know how to clean, inspect and maintain their gear and when it should be replaced.

To ensure that hi-visibility clothing remains fully compliant and at its maximum effectiveness, it should always be worn as intended:

• Garments should always be worn fastened
• Garments should always be clean to ensure the colour and reflective tape remain fully visible
• All reflective tape should be on full display whilst the garment is being worn
• Size matters. Make sure hi-vis garments fit correctly so that they're not too oversized to get in the way of performing tasks or cause an accident

When first purchased, garments are tested to ensure they perform and meet the standards specified. However, when hi-vis clothing becomes dirty, its visibility is compromised, meaning it may no longer work to the desired effect.

It's essential to maintain the cleanliness of hi-visibility clothing throughout its lifetime. If garments are dirty, their visibility will be compromised and they may no longer protect workers in low levels of light. Hi-vis items should be cleaned when there is visible dirt on the garment.

How to Wash Hi-Vis Clothing

Manufacturers must include clear laundry instructions on the label. Instructions may vary dependant on the type of garment but will usually state the washing temperature and advise how to wash the garments.

There are a few general points to bear when it comes to washing hi-vis clothing, however you should always refer to the laundering instructions attached to each garment for specific care instructions that will preserve its integrity:

• Temperature: the temperature should be high enough to effectively clean and remove any stains from the garment, but not so high that the garment's quality could be compromised
• Ph Level: prolonged or excessive alkalinity can cause reflective tape to disintegrate or become damaged. Ph levels should not exceed 11
• Maximum number of wash cycles: The number of maximum washes can vary between brands so it's recommended that the wearer refers to any specific guidance provided by them. The number of washes on the label states the number of washes it's been tested to without losing its safety properties. That doesn't mean the garment can't be used after this, however a risk assessment should be carried out to identify if the garment is still compliant.

We have worked with our partners Gore to illustrate the importance of maintaining your hi-vis hazardwear.

The process for keeping the hi-vis garments in compliant condition is ruled by common sense. The working conditions will determine how often you need to wash or replace garments.

The number of times garments have been washed in testing tell you the likely lifetime of garments. However, their lifetime will also depend on usage and storage conditions and relies on the garment's care instructions being followed correctly.

It should be easy to identify when the important safety properties of the garment that make it hi-vis have been lost. When hi-vis tape is damaged, it fades to a matt colour, it's time to replace the garment because it's no longer compliant.

It's best to have two sets of hi-vis garments and rotate the use to prolong their life.