What do different Hi Vis colours mean?
The Health and Safety Executive, or HSE, is the governing body in the UK responsible for the regulation and enforcement of health, safety and welfare at work. They dictate that the colour of hi vis should be a colour that ensures the wearer stands out from their ambient background which in most cases should be dayglo or fluorescent yellow.
This is why most hi vis clothing you will see will be fluorescent yellow. Another example of a high visibility clothing colour is the fluorescent orange railway workers wear which is more distinguishable from railway signals than yellow, therefore making them more visible and safer whilst at work.
Different industries will have differing regulations regarding PPE. For example, the Rail Safety and Standards Board is responsible for maintaining the safety of railway workers and requires compliance with Rail Industry Standard RIS-3279-TOM, fluorescent orange, to be worn whilst at work.
Other colours, such as white, blue, green, purple and pink do not generally conform to International Standardisation Organization, or ISO, standards relating to hi vis as these colours do not provide enough of a contrast to ambient backgrounds.
