UK HI-VIS REGULATIONS - HOW TO STAY SAFE AND SEEN

Hi-vis PPE keeps your team safe, seen, and on the right side of the law.

But there’s more to it than just handing out yellow vests.

UK hi-vis regulations are clear, and getting it wrong can have serious consequences for your team and your business.

The good news? Staying compliant is easier than you think.

We’re here to answer key questions like:

• What is Class 3 PPE?
• What is hi-vis clothing?
• When should hi-vis be worn?
• What is the ISO 20471:2013 A1:2016 safety standard?

Let’s break it all down.

WHAT ARE THE UK REGULATIONS FOR HI-VIS PPE?

Wearing hi-vis PPE isn’t just a good idea - it’s a legal requirement.

Employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to protect their team from harm. 

That includes providing protective clothing when visibility is a risk.

More detailed requirements are set out in the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPER 1992), which were updated in 2022. 

These laws say employers must:

• Keep PPE in good working condition
• Assess visibility risks in the workplace
• Train staff on how and when to wear it
• Provide suitable PPE that matches the risk

The bottom line? Employers must take all reasonable steps to keep everyone safe on site, including assessing and managing poor visibility risks.

Common visibility risks include:

• Bad weather
• Moving vehicles
• Dust, smoke, or steam 
• Night work or poor lighting 

Jobs that typically require hi-vis PPE:

• Railways and airfields
• Warehouses with forklift traffic
• Roadside and construction work
• Busy worksites or delivery areas

You’ll also need hi-vis clothing when working:

• In bad weather (rain, fog, snow, or mist)
• In low light (night shifts, basements, or tunnels)
• Around moving vehicles (roadsides, railways, or airfields)
• In busy environments (warehouses, docks, or construction sites)
• With heavy machinery (forklifts, excavators, or agricultural equipment)

WHAT IS ISO 20471:2013 A1:2016?

ISO 20471:2013 A1:2016 is the international safety standard for workwear and personal protective equipment (PPE).

To meet this standard, garments must pass strict visibility and durability tests, including how well they perform after washing.

The most recent update (ISO 20471:2013 A1:2016) outlines how visible your PPE needs to be depending on the level of risk.

Look for the EN symbol on the label. It will tell you if the garment is certified to the latest standard and which visibility class it meets (1, 2, or 3).

If your PPE isn’t certified to this standard, it may not provide adequate protection.

At SMI, all our hi-vis workwear is fully certified and built to last.

No guesswork. Just gear that gets the job done.

WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF HI-VIS?

Not all hi-vis gear offers the same level of protection.

ISO 20471:2013 A1:2016 splits visibility into three classes: 1, 2, and 3.

Class 1 is the lowest level of visibility. Class 3 provides the highest protection.

HI-VIS PPE CLASSES AT A GLANCE:

CLASS	VISIBILITY LEVEL	WHERE YOU'LL NEED IT
Class 1	Basic	Warehouses, off-road work, delivery yards, forklift operators, and construction work.
Class 2	Medium	Traffic control, couriers, site visitors, airport ground crew, and waste collection.
Class 3	Maximum	Railway, highways, emergency services, road maintenance crews, motorways, and night-time jobs.

WORKING ON THE RAILWAY? 

Hi-vis railway PPE must have a visibility rating of Class 2 or higher and be certified to the RIS-3279-TOM standard.

At SMI, we stock railway-compliant hi-vis:

• Waistcoats
• Eco-friendly hi-vis
• Polo shirts & T-shirts
• Trousers and shorts
• Ladies hi-vis clothing 
• Jackets and stormcoats
• Sweatshirts and fleeces

Explore our complete range of hi-vis PPE.

Need help? Call us on 0330 441 3500 or drop us a message.

HOW TO WEAR & LOOK AFTER YOUR HI-VIS

Hi-vis PPE needs more care than everyday workwear to stay effective.

Here’s how to look after yours:

• Wash at 40°C max with mild detergent 
• Always check the care label and air dry 
• Don’t wear faded, damaged, or dirty PPE
• Keep out of direct sunlight and away from chemicals 

TOP TIP: Branding should take up no more than 10-15% of the fluorescent area to stay compliant.

NEED BRANDED HI-VIS?

We offer custom branding on select products, keeping not only your team visible but also your logo.

Want to find out more? Read the blog for our tips and tricks.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR EMPLOYERS?

To ensure everyone is safe on site, always:

• Provide the right PPE for the risk
• Regularly check for wear and tear
• Train workers on how to wear and wash their workwear

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON HI-VIS COMPLIANCE MISTAKES?

Avoid these mistakes to stay compliant:

• Buying non-certified products
• Using the wrong class of PPE for the task
• Letting hi-vis PPE become too worn or dirty

Poor PPE puts people at risk and can result in accidents, fines, or prosecution.

Make sure your hi-vis gear is always certified and the right class for the job.

HOW CAN SMI HELP YOU STAY SAFE AND SEEN?

Understanding EN numbers and Hi-vis classes can be overwhelming. But you don’t need to figure it all out alone.

At SMI, we know what matters on site - staying seen, safe, and supported.

Need advice or help? Chat with our friendly team today. 
Send us a message, or call us on 0330 441 3500.

FAQs

Here’s what others are asking about hi-vis clothing regulations.

WHEN SHOULD HI-VIS BE WORN?

Your team should wear hi-vis PPE whenever there’s a risk of low visibility. 

WHAT IS CLASS 3 PPE?

Class 3 PPE provides the highest visibility and is usually required for the riskiest jobs.

ARE HI-VIS VESTS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN THE UK?

Yes. If your risk assessment shows hi-vis is needed, the law says it must be worn.

WHAT COLOURS COUNT AS HI-VIS?

Under ISO 20471:2013 A1:2016, only three colours are permitted:

• Fluorescent red 
• Fluorescent yellow
• Fluorescent orange