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:
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: The Leader in High-Visibility Uniforms
Alsco 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’s 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 2022). Previsor Insurance.
Hi Vis 101: Everything You Need to Know. Occupational Health and Safety. (June 2021).
High Visibility Safety Apparel. (December 2021). Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).