Hi-Vis Jackets: The Safety Compliance Mistake Most Site Managers Miss

The mistake is simple: assuming any yellow jacket automatically counts as compliant hi-vis PPE. It doesn't, and getting this wrong can leave workers wearing clothing that is not suitable for the risks they face.

What is ISO 20471, in plain terms? It's the international standard for high-visibility clothing. In the UK, the current published standard is BS EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016, which sets requirements for colour, retroreflection, the minimum areas of high-visibility materials and their placement on protective clothing. The standard is designed to help make the wearer conspicuous to vehicle and machinery operators in different lighting conditions. 

Key Takeaways

• ISO 20471 sets three hi-vis classes, based on how much fluorescent and reflective material a garment contains, not the colour alone.

• Class 3 provides the highest conspicuity classification, with the largest minimum areas of visible material.

• Employers, not just workers, carry the legal responsibility for choosing, maintaining and replacing hi-vis clothing under UK PPE law.

• Jacket type bomber, softshell or waterproof should be chosen around the season and the job, not fashion preference.

What Is ISO 20471 and Why Does It Matter?

EN ISO 20471 is the international standard for high-visibility clothing. It sets requirements for garments intended to make the wearer visually conspicuous to vehicle or machinery operators during daylight and when illuminated by headlights in darkness.

The important point is that hi-vis is not simply about colour. The standard considers the amount and placement of fluorescent and retroreflective material on the garment. That is why two jackets that look similarly bright can have different classifications.

For a site manager, the label matters because it tells you what level of visibility the garment has been designed and assessed to provide. It should be considered alongside the actual risks, rather than treated as a substitute for a workplace risk assessment. 

Hi Vis Jacket Classes Explained: Class 1, 2 and 3

EN ISO 20471 defines three classes. In simple terms, the higher the class, the greater the minimum area of conspicuous material required. 

Class	Minimum fluorescent background material	Minimum retroreflective material	Visibility classification
Class 1	0.14 m²	0.10 m²	Lower conspicuity classification
Class 2	0.50 m²	0.13 m²	Intermediate conspicuity classification
Class 3	0.80 m²	0.20 m²	Highest conspicuity classification

Class 3 has additional design requirements as well as larger minimum areas of visible material. The garment must cover the torso and include, at minimum, either sleeves with retroreflective bands or full-length trouser legs with retroreflective bands.

A higher performance class can sometimes be achieved through a certified clothing ensemble, such as a jacket and trousers. However, the combination must meet the standard's requirements and the higher class must be specified in the relevant garment information and labelling.

Hi-Vis Classes Explained: Which One Applies to the Job

This is where most compliance mistakes actually happen. It's not that businesses ignore hi-vis entirely; it's that they issue the wrong class for the risk.

• Class 1 has the lowest minimum area of conspicuous material.

• Class 2 has a greater minimum area than Class 1 and provides an intermediate conspicuity classification.

• Class 3 has the greatest minimum areas and provides the highest conspicuity classification. 

The HSE's own guidance puts it simply: the darker the conditions or the site, the greater the amount of hi-vis clothing required. 

Jacket Types: Bomber, Softshell and Waterproof Options

Class only tells you how visible a jacket needs to be. Jacket type determines whether it's actually practical to wear.

• Bomber jackets - a shorter, more casual cut, often chosen for everyday site wear where full-length coverage isn't essential.

• Softshell jackets - a useful workwear outer layer for some environments, but a standard softshell should not automatically be treated as hi-vis PPE. If high visibility is required, check that the specific garment has the appropriate high-visibility classification and conformity information.

• Waterproof jackets - useful for outdoor work in wet conditions. Features such as taped seams can help improve weather resistance, but the garment still needs to provide the required high-visibility performance if it is being used as hi-vis PPE.

For colder months, a hi vis winter jacket can combine the required high-visibility features with additional warmth and weather protection. Check the garment's individual specification rather than assuming that every padded or winter-weight jacket meets the required class.

Hi Vis Compliance Guide: What Employers Need to Check

Hi vis workwear regulations place responsibilities on employers when high-visibility clothing is required as PPE. Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations, employers must provide suitable PPE, including hi-vis clothing, wherever workers face a risk that can't be adequately controlled another way.

That duty doesn't end at the point of purchase. Where hi-vis clothing is required as PPE, employers should:

• Select the correct class based on an actual risk assessment, not habit.

• Maintain hi-vis clothing in clean, undamaged condition, since faded or dirty garments lose their reflective performance over time.

• Replace worn or damaged items, rather than letting staff wear out-of-spec kit.

• Make sure a mens hi vis jacket or any other style issued to staff is the correct size, fits properly and remains in good condition. HSE guidance specifically highlights the importance of suitable fit and condition when selecting and using PPE.

Personalisation may be possible, but it must not compromise the garment's certified visible area or other manufacturer requirements. The ISO 20471 requirements specifically state that logos, lettering and labels must not reduce the minimum visible area required for the garment's class.

Make Hi-Vis Selection Part of Your Site Safety Process

The right hi-vis jacket is not simply the brightest one on the rail. It is the garment that matches the identified risk, required visibility class, working conditions and PPE arrangements.

For site managers, that means checking the classification before purchase, considering weather and traffic conditions, maintaining the garments properly and reviewing the requirements when site conditions change.

If you need to replace or equip a team with compliant high-visibility outerwear, Harveys' current hi-vis jacket range includes Class 3 options such as the fleece-lined bomber and high-visibility bomber, alongside other high-visibility outerwear. Check each product's individual specification and conformity information before selecting it for a particular site requirement. 

FAQs

What is ISO 20471? 

ISO 20471 is the standard used to classify high-visibility clothing according to its visibility performance. It helps employers identify whether a garment meets the requirements for a particular high-visibility classification.

What's the difference between Class 2 and Class 3 hi-vis? 

Class 2 covers you for a good amount of work, but if the risk is higher, Class 3 steps things up with more fluorescent and reflective material, giving you the best visibility on site. The right choice really comes down to your risk assessment, the conditions your team works in, and whatever rules apply to your industry or site.

Is hi-vis clothing a legal requirement at work? 

It may be required where a workplace risk assessment identifies a visibility risk that cannot be adequately controlled by other means. Whether hi-vis is needed depends on the work environment and identified risks.

Who is responsible for providing hi-vis clothing? 

In the UK, it’s the employer’s responsibility under PPE requirements to provide, maintain and replace adequate hi-vis apparel – not the worker’s.

Can hi-vis jackets be personalised with a company logo? 

Yes, as long as the branding doesn't reduce the garment's certified visible area below the minimum required for its class, particularly on smaller sizes.