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

By ShirtSpace | Jun 06,  |  Updated Jun 07,

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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. 

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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Colors with high visibility are incredibly useful for improving safety. Neon orange, yellow, and green hues help make people and objects easily identifiable. This can reduce accidents and increase awareness.

Neon orange, green, and yellow uniforms provide maximum visibility in low-lighting environments. These colors stand out against backgrounds well while being easily distinguishable under various lighting conditions. 

Both fluorescent and retroreflective materials have their advantages. Retroreflective material performs better in low-light situations, whereas fluorescent hues visually stand out more. 

What Are the Advantages of High-Visibility Colors?

Some of the benefits associated with high-visibility colors include the following:

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• Safety: High-visibility colors can increase safety  in potentially hazardous environments. They&#;re commonly worn by construction workers, road crews, and emergency services personnel, so these workers can be easily seen even under low-light conditions. Bright, attention-grabbing colors help reduce accidents because drivers can more easily see these workers.

• Awareness: High-visibility colors stand out and draw attention. These colors are used in many different ways, including traffic signs, road markings, or safety equipment like cones and barriers. They immediately attract attention and make pedestrians and drivers more aware of potential hazards.

• Sporting activities: High-visibility colors are widely utilized in sports and recreational activities to increase the visibility of players, teams, objects or situations. Vividly colored balls, markers, bibs, or jerseys help spectators and participants easily track essential elements on the playing field, so they can keep up with the game. 

• Advertising and marketing: Highly visible colors draw attention to products or messages, standing out on the shelves or attracting the attention of passersby. Grabbing the attention of potential buyers is the first step in making a sale.

What Colors Are Best Suited to High-Visibility Uniforms?

High-visibility uniforms are most effective when designed to feature colors that stand out, such as neon orange, yellow, and green. Each of these colors offers its own set of advantages and sends a different message.

Neon or Bright Orange

Neon orange is known for its high visibility in most settings, making neon orange uniforms and signs easy to spot even from far away. 

Bright orange is often an important choice in situations where safety is an issue. Workers can be easily recognized, making it easier for drivers and others to see them when they are on the job. The color is often associated with caution, so many people pause when they see a sign or uniform that features bright orange.

Neon Yellow

Neon yellow, also referred to as safety yellow or fluorescent yellow, is an ideal color choice for uniforms requiring high visibility. Its vibrancy commands attention in both low-light and bright-light conditions, making it suitable for all-day visibility. 

Applications of neon yellow are common in the construction, road maintenance, and emergency response industries, where quick identification is vital. Neon yellow helps people interpret the risks of a situation quickly and easily.

Neon Green 

Neon green, also known as lime green or fluorescent green, is another high-visibility color, though it&#;s not used as often as neon yellow and orange. The brightness of the color may be equally identifiable in all light situations and its ability to grab the attention of passersby, but it lacks the association with safety and risk that comes with orange and yellow. 

Neon green may be a good choice for outdoor sporting events and activities where daytime visibility is important. It can be useful in situations where there are multiple groups of items or teams that need to be immediately identifiable or tracked, so it stands out next to other bright colors.

Other Neon Colors

All colors that have a fluorescent glow, including pink, red, and blue, can also be effective for high visibility needs. Depending on the situation and use, they may not be as effective for low-light conditions or certain industry requirements. 

Though they&#;re always a consideration, background materials and colors are especially important for neon reds and blues. These colors&#; visibility may be negatively affected depending on their surroundings or when compliance with industry regulations and standards is an issue. 

Which Is Better for High Visibility: Fluorescent Colors or Retroreflective Material? 

Fluorescent colors and reflective materials both offer distinct advantages when it comes to visibility. Their effectiveness depends on the circumstances.

Fluorescent colors like neon orange, yellow, and green stand out against backgrounds because they contrast sharply. This makes them useful in environments where visibility is essential, even though their effectiveness in low-light scenarios may be diminished.

Retroreflective materials reflect light back at its source, making wearers more visible even in low-light conditions like dawn or dusk. Their visibility extends farther than ambient light sources alone.

Retroreflective and fluorescent materials should be chosen based on the situation for which they are needed. Factors like lighting conditions and whether active or passive visibility is desired should be considered when making this decision. 

Ultimately, fluorescent colors offer increased daytime visibility, whereas retroreflective materials are great for low-light conditions. Using both can maximize visibility.

Is Black an effective Hi-Visibility Color? 

No, black is not a good choice in situations where high visibility is a priority. Dark colors in general should not be chosen when high visibility is needed. Black absorbs rather than reflects light, making individuals and objects harder to see. 

Instead, brighter or fluorescent colors offer better contrast against all backgrounds, so people wearing them are easily recognized. Choosing high-visibility colors reduces accident risk and increases overall safety.

Alsco Uniforms: The Leader in High-Visibility Uniforms

Alsco Uniforms offers customizable high-visibility uniforms designed to keep your team safe and in style. 

Our trusted manufacturers and extensive, fabric, color and design options mean that your business has access to the best in ANSI Class 2 and 3, insulated gear, and waterproof clothing, which can be embroidered with the emblem or logo of your choice.  

Discover Alsco Uniforms' wide array of uniform solutions, and help ensure your employees&#; safety during all tasks. Contact us today to learn how we can meet all your uniform requirements.

References

High Visibility: Safety Gear That&#;s More Than Just Bright Colors. (June ). Previsor Insurance. 

Hi Vis 101: Everything You Need to Know. Occupational Health and Safety. (June ). 

High Visibility Safety Apparel. (December ). Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). 

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