Hi-Vis Polo Shirts
Keeping safe on site is a must, but that doesn't mean you can't also be comfortable whilst being compliant. Here at Cromwell, we have a wide range of men's and women's hi-vis polo shirts from our trusted own brand Halo® as well as leading national brands such as Mascot®, Pulsar® and Portwest®.
What are hi-vis polo shirts?
Hi-vis polo shirts are either fluorescent orange, red or yellow in colour and possess a collar and button up system the same as a regular polo shirt. They are designed to ensure that personnel are visible when on bustling work sites where accidents can occur due to high volumes of people moving around at once, or where workers are often active in low-lighting conditions.
When are hi-vis polo shirt used?
One of the many options of hi-visibility clothing, hi-vis polo shirts are often worn in warehouses, on construction sites or maintenance sites where work is often undertaken in low-light conditions such as at night time. Hi-visibility clothing must also be worn in work environments where vehicles are in operation, for example forklift trucks, cranes or areas where general traffic is unavoidable such as is the case for highway maintenance workers. Hi-vis polo shirts are suited for warmer months where workers might forego a hi-vis jacket, but still must meet industry standards to ensure compliancy with safety regulations.
Considerations when choosing a hi-vis polo shirt
• Fitting - Poorly fitted hi-vis polo shirts can result in a health hazard; loose fitting clothing poses a risk of getting caught in machinery, resulting in workers becoming injured. It's important to select a hi-vis polo shirt that isn't too lose or too tight to ensure maximum comfort and safety.
• Sleeve type - Most hi-vis polo shirts are available to purchase with either long or short sleeves to suit the wearer year round. For warmer weather, short sleeves are preferable whilst in the colder months, a long sleeved hi-vis polo shirt is often a smart choice to keep you compliant and comfortable.
• Material - Hi-vis polo shirts are most often manufactured from polyester or some sort of polyester/cotton blend. This is due to the lightweight, durable, quick drying nature of polyester, making for a resilient end product that allows the user to cool quickly when sweating. It's worth checking which material would suit you and your needs best before purchasing.
• Colour - There are three colours that are compliant with the necessary hi-visibility clothing safety standard of EN ISO 20471:2013. There is a choice of fluorescent orange, yellow or red. By picking one of these three colours, you ensure compliance as well as allowing for personal preferences and workplace needs to shine through.
• Size - It's highly important that your hi-vis polo shirt is the right size to optimise comfort and wearability without compromising on manoeuvrability whilst working. Be sure to check the size before purchasing, as a product that is too large or too small could form a health hazard.
Hi-vis polo shirt jargon buster
We want to make it easy for you to select the right hi-vis polo shirt for your needs, so here are some key terms that will help you understand the range and applications of the products on offer a little better.
What does the hi-visibility clothing standard EN ISO 20471:2013 mean?
EN ISO 20471:2013 is not as complicated to understand as it first appears, and it specifies the basic/additional hi-visibility clothing requirements to meet the standard.
Let's break it down...
• EN - This is the current applicable standard across Europe.
• ISO - All hi-visibility products must meet the minimum safety standards as defined by the International Organization for Standardization.
• 20471 - This is the assigned legislation number.
• 2013 - This is the year the safety standard around hi-visibility clothing was updated. The new standard outlines the requirements for three components of hi-visibility workwear: the base fabric colour, the minimum area for reflectivity and the placement of the reflective tape.
So then what are the different classes within this standard and what do they mean?
There are three classes of hi-visibility clothing within this EN ISO standard that are defined as such:
• Hi-Vis Class 1 - This applies to garments with the lowest level of visibility, such as hi-vis trousers when not worn in conjunction with other hi-vis garments.
• Hi-Vis Class 2 - This applies to garments with an intermediate level of visibility, such as hi-vis sleeveless vests.
• Hi-Vis Class 1 - This applies to garments with the highest level of visibility, such as hi-vis jackets, hi-vis polo shirts with long sleeves and sleeved hi-vis vests.
FAQs
How often should you replace hi-vis clothing?
If worn daily, the general guidance suggests that your hi-vis workwear should be replaced every three months. This of course depends on the regularity with which you wear your hi-vis clothing; if you wear it only on occasion it may last longer, if you wear it every day in punishing environments then of course it may need to be replaced sooner. This guidance can also be broken down into washes; unless stated otherwise on your hi-vis clothing label,
Is it important to wear hi-vis clothing?
In unavoidably hazardous work environments, it's crucial to wear hi-vis clothing to reduce the likelihood of accidents due to not being seen when roaming the workplace. If your workplace puts you at risk of not being seen, then hi-visibility clothing is mandatory in order to be compliant with current health and safety regulations.