3 Reasons Why High Contrast Safety Stripes Improve Your Visibility

High visibility safety apparel is essential in most work environments; and a key PPE item to help avoid struck-by accidents because of the improved visibility. When trying to find the best hi vis work gear, it is important to consider selecting a style with high contrast striping.

Hi vis workwear with high contrast safety stripes is one important example of how contrast can be an important tool for workplace safety and productivity. Below, we’ll analyze three ways that high contrast safety stripes for clothing can help you work safer and smarter. And because we love to help our customers choose the best safety gear, we’ll also talk about some of HiVis Supply’s best options for hi vis clothing with high contrast elements. 

1. High contrast stripes provide improved daytime performance. 

Most high visibility workwear has two standard visibility elements: bright fluorescent colors and retroreflective striping. These hi vis workwear pieces can offer good visibility either night or day, but they’re most effective in low light conditions in which their retroreflective stripes are designed to reflect headlights or work lights. 

High contrast safety stripes for clothing add a third visibility element: colored fluorescent stripes with a combination of different colors that create an eye-catching contrast. Wearing multiple high visibility contrasting colors helps improve a worker’s daytime visibility by adding an element that doesn’t rely on retro-reflectivity. That’s why high contrast coloring is a great choice when you need a reflective vest or jacket that goes a little bit farther, especially if daytime visibility is a concern. 

2. High contrast stripes help workers stand out better in a work zone. 

Visibility in a work zone is always challenging because there is so much movement and there are so many objects. In the split second that a driver has to decide about maneuvering their vehicle, it can be difficult to tell a worker apart from an inanimate object. High visibility workwear is designed to address this problem through its use of bright fluorescent colors. 

That’s why, in extremely busy areas or other challenging conditions, it can be helpful for workers to have the extra visibility that high contrast striping provides. A little extra pop might be all that it takes to alert a vehicle operator to a worker’s presence and, potentially, save a life.

3. High contrast stripes can be used to tell workers apart by role. 

Many job sites also require workers in many different roles and even from different employers to work at the same time. Under these conditions, it can be difficult to tell workers apart, which makes it challenging to quickly determine when a worker is in the wrong work zone or which employer someone works for. 

Enhanced visibility garments often use a variety of colors like red, blue, black, and more to make it easy to differentiate workers. It’s a simple trick, but one that’s highly effective in creating safer and more organized job sites. 

High Contrast Safety Workwear from HiVis Supply

Any technology can be helpful in theory, but real-life performance on the job site is where it counts. HiVis Supply’s selection of high-contrast workwear is tried and tested for superior visibility performance, plus rugged durability and ergonomic comfort. These are some of our favorite high-contrast selections:  

• DOME75 Dynamic Series DV2123 HiVis Contrast Viz-Cool Mesh Safety Vest: An economical high-contrast safety vest made from comfortable mesh and features multiple pockets. 
• Kishigo 1543/1544 Brilliant Series Class 2 Ultimate Reflective Vest: A high-performance zippered vest with easy-reach pockets and a classy black trim for extra contrast. 
• GSS Safety 1511 Onyx Series Class 2 HiVis Ripstop Surveyors Vest: A rugged surveyor’s vest with plenty of pockets and ripstop polyester construction. 
• Kishigo B100 Series Enhanced Visibility Multi-Pocket Mesh Identification Vest: An affordable enhanced visibility vest perfect for color-coding and featuring an ID pocket. 
• Work King ST09 Class 2 Polyester Micro Mesh Contrast Short Sleeve T-Shirt: An ultra-comfy hi-vis work t-shirt with built-in moisture-wicking. 
• GSS Safety 5013 Class 3 HiVis Contrast Long Sleeve Safety T-Shirt: A high-performance long-sleeve T-shirt designed for extreme visibility in demanding work environments. 
• Tough Duck SJ33 Class 1 Camo Flex Duck Safety Jacket: A premium duck cotton high contrast safety jacket with quilted polyfill insulation and pockets galore. 
• Tough Duck SJ16 Class 3 Thermal Lined Anti-Pill Polyester Hoodie: A seriously warm hoodie with extreme high-contrast striping that’s perfect as a layer or worn on its own. 
• Tough Duck SP01 Class E Safety Cargo Work Pant: Comfy polyester-cotton blend work pants with an enhanced visibility high contrast stripe for a safer workday. 

Safety is the foundation of success on the job site, and high contrast safety stripes for clothing are a great way to go the extra mile. To learn more about high visibility colors and how they work, make sure to read our article on the history of hi vis fluorescent colors, and check out our full selection of hi vis workwear to see everything that we can do for your safety and productivity.