High visibility clothing – how often should hi vis clothing be replaced?

If you or your staff require the use of high visibility workwear as part of your work, knowing when to replace it is crucial to ensure it provides the best protection at all times. How often you need to replace your protective uniform doesn’t necessarily depend on how long you’ve had it. In fact, how often your high visibility clothing is used, and the standard of care it receives have a much greater impact. Modern hi vis clothing does not come with a “shelf life” per se, and instead is typically recommended to be changed after a specific number of washes.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the key indicators for replacing your high visibility clothing, how hi vis garments should be cared for to achieve the best longevity, and what phs BeSafe can do to help you get the best results.

The importance of high visibility clothing

If you’re running a business in a heavy industry such as construction, transport or manufacturing - you’ve probably already put a lot of time and effort into researching the ideal uniform for your requirements, including whether your workers require high visibility clothing. Adding a company name or logo to high visibility clothing enhances team visibility and safety, while also promoting brand recognition and professionalism. This means that from both a safety point of view and a financial one, it is always going to be beneficial to care for the garments properly.

Often, work that requires high visibility clothing involves a high risk of injury or worse if the wearer is not seen – such as carrying out road maintenance where there are dangers from traffic, accident first responders, warehouse workers and more. Adding a logo to these garments not only improves visibility but also acts as a mobile advertisement, promoting brand awareness. Such physical jobs will lead to more wear and tear than the average work task, meaning more regular replacements are needed. This can be reduced by protecting and cleaning each garment in the most effective way possible. The workwear industry emphasizes the importance of high-visibility workwear as a crucial safety measure, detailing its compliance with safety regulations and standards.

Here are the main factors that need to be considered to allow you to achieve this:

Typical Usage

How often a garment needs to be replaced will depend on the regularity and context of its use. For example, an employee who works in industrial areas where processes are ongoing and hi vis jackets are mandated at all times, will usually need a replacement more quickly than a lorry driver who only wears a hi vis jacket when getting out of the vehicle. High visibility clothing is especially crucial in low light conditions to ensure worker safety by enhancing visibility through bright and reflective fabrics.

The main signs of aging in high visibility clothing that should be regularly checked for are:

·       Fading of background and reflective tape[RP1]

·       Worn patches on reflective areas

·       Missing glass beads

·       Loss of visibility in the dark

·       Rips/tears/more conventional damage

Ongoing maintenance of high visibility clothing

To maximise the lifespan of your protective clothing, your hi vis workwear must be cleaned thoroughly when dirty, and stored in a dry place to prevent buildup of grime, bacteria, soil, corrosive chemicals and other damaging substances. It is crucial to stay visible on job sites, so maintaining the visibility of high visibility clothing is essential for safety.

We have many different wash processes that we utilise by segregating lightly soiled from heavily soiled items to ensure all protective properties are maintained.

It is quite common for low-cost hi-vis vests to be discarded when dirty, but this can be both a significant cost to the business and very harmful to the environment. As long as it is washed correctly and hasn’t exceeded the specific limit of wash cycles, the garment and reflective strip should be cleaned very effectively and remain suitable for use.

Which wash cycle to use

It is absolutely crucial that hi vis garments are kept completely clean. T shirts, polo's, jackets, trousers and boilersuits are ALL an essential component of high visibility workwear, known for their durability, comfort, and visibility, especially in hazardous conditions. This is usually because they are used in jobs that commonly involve a build-up of dirt. However, if this dirt is allowed to build up on the garments, the reflective properties of the high visibility clothing may be reduced. This can make workers less visible at distance or in the dark, which will lead to both safety and compliance issues

EN ISO 20471:2013 is the international standard used for hi vis clothing. For high visibility clothing to be compliant with it, it must come with a data sheet or information label that explains how, how often, and under what circumstances the garment should be washed, as well as other important concerns to be aware of.

Since this info may change based on brands and materials used, it is crucial to read and take the appropriate actions. It will more than likely include:

·       A maximum wash temperature that must not be exceeded in order to keep the high visibility clothing intact

·       A minimum wash temperature that must be matched or exceeded in order to properly clean the garment

·       Basic care rules such as “do not iron” or “do not tumble dry”

·       In the case of sensitive items, more technical industrial instructions such as the requirement to only use industrial wash cycles

·       Most importantly, a maximum number of washes that should not be exceeded

How Can phs Besafe Help?

phs Besafe is the UK’s most reliable supplier of hi vis laundry services, clothing locker services, garment destruction and more. We offer a range of different high visibility clothing to suit the requirements of the worker – such as whether they require protection from cold temperatures, or exposure to extreme heat, in addition to high visibility. High visibility clothing often comes in colors like yellow and orange to ensure compliance with standards like EN ISO 20471, which enhances visibility in hazardous environments.

We are committed to improving sustainability and social impact throughout our organisation – from new initiatives and products to ongoing work that builds on our past achievements. By using phs Besafe, organisations can make a difference to the environment and their bottom line as well as telling a good news story. It’s all about doing the right thing.

To learn more about how you can save money, help minimise environmental damage, and keep your staff safer, contact us now!