Key points
- Hi-vis clothing helps drivers and plant operators see workers, and it backs up traffic controls such as separation and barriers, it does not replace them.
- Garments listed against AS/NZS 4602.1 carry a class: Class D for daytime, Class N for night-time and Class D/N for day and night.
- Fluorescent fabric is for daylight, retroreflective tape shines back in headlights, so work at night, dawn, dusk or in poor weather needs tape.
- Check the site rules for colour and class, read the label, wear hi-vis as the outer layer, follow the care label and replace faded or damaged garments.
This guide is for supervisors and purchasing officers who buy hi-vis clothing for road, construction, warehouse and mining crews. It explains how to read a hi-vis label and match garments to the light and the task, and it points to official guidance from Safe Work Australia, Standards Australia and a state road authority.
What is hi-vis clothing for?
Hi-vis clothing makes a worker easier to see for drivers and plant operators near moving traffic, moving plant or equipment, against a busy background and in poor light. AS/NZS 4602.1, the high visibility garment standard, covers garments for people at work who may be exposed to moving traffic, moving plant or equipment in high risk situations. Being seen gives drivers and plant operators more time to react, which matters when vehicles or mobile plant are moving in the same area as people on foot. Typical garments include vests, shirts, polos, jackets, fleeces, rain gear, trousers and coveralls. Each type can be made for day use, night use or both, depending on the fabric and tape used.
Where does hi-vis fit with other traffic controls?
Hi-vis is PPE. The order of traffic controls comes from Safe Work Australia's traffic management guidance: eliminate or isolate the hazard, for example barriers that separate people from vehicles, then engineering controls, then administrative controls such as warning signs and scheduling, and then PPE such as high visibility clothing to minimise any remaining risk. A combination of controls may be used. Under the WHS laws, and the OHS laws in Victoria, where PPE is used to control a risk the business generally has to provide it, make sure it is suitable, fits and is maintained, and train workers to use it. Workers have to wear it as instructed. Hi-vis does not stop a vehicle, so separation, barriers, traffic plans and lighting come first.
What do Class D, Class N and Class D/N mean?
AS/NZS 4602.1 sorts garments into three classes by when they are worn: daytime, night-time where the wearer is seen by reflected light, or both. Look for the class on the garment label and on the product listing.
| Class on the label | When it is for | What makes it visible |
|---|---|---|
| Class D | Daytime use | Fluorescent or other high visibility background fabric |
| Class N | Night-time use, seen in reflected light such as headlights | Retroreflective tape |
| Class D/N | Day and night use | Retroreflective tape on a high visibility background fabric |
Class D garments are for daytime use only. For night work, dawn, dusk or poor weather, choose Class N or Class D/N garments with retroreflective tape.
One example of a garment named by its class is the Portwest Hi-Vis Class D Vest MV116.
How do fluorescent fabric and retroreflective tape differ?
Fluorescent fabric is for daytime visibility. Retroreflective tape shines back toward a light source such as headlights, for night and dark conditions. Tape does little in bright daylight on its own, and fluorescent fabric does little in the dark on its own, which is why day and night garments combine both. AS/NZS 1906.4 sorts these materials into classes. The Queensland Traffic Controller Clothing Standard lists them like this:
| Material class (AS/NZS 1906.4) | What it is |
|---|---|
| Class F | High daytime visibility fluorescent material |
| Class F (W) | Class F material that has also passed an optional wet weather test |
| Class R | Retroreflective material for garments used in dark conditions |
| Class RF | Combined retroreflective and fluorescent material, meeting Class R and the daytime colour of Class F |
| Class NF | High daytime visibility non-fluorescent material |
Tape colour should contrast with the garment, for example white tape on a fluorescent yellow vest, as noted in the Queensland standard for traffic controllers.
Which standards should you look for on the label?
AS/NZS 4602.1, the high visibility safety garment standard, and AS/NZS 1906.4, the high visibility materials standard, are the two Australian standards to look for. Some garments are listed against EN ISO 20471, the European and international high visibility clothing standard. Some hi-vis shirts are also listed against AS/NZS 4399, the sun protective clothing standard, for sun protection. Standards Australia lists a newer edition of the high visibility garment standard, published in 2024, with the same title, and it keeps the Class D, Class N and Class D/N garment classes. Many hi-vis garments on our listings state AS/NZS 4602.1. Check the label and the product listing, and ask the site which standard and edition it accepts.
Should your crew wear orange or yellow hi-vis?
Both fluorescent yellow and fluorescent orange-red are used on Australian worksites and both are in our range. As one example, the Queensland Traffic Controller Clothing Standard lists fluorescent yellow and fluorescent orange-red as suitable colours for traffic controller garments, but not red. The choice for a crew is usually set by the site, the client or a road authority, so check the site rules and keep one colour across a crew if the site asks for it.
How do you choose hi-vis for road and traffic work?
For work at night, Safe Work Australia's traffic management guidance says all signs, devices and clothing should be appropriately reflective, and workers and the worksite should be well lit.
The Queensland traffic controller standard treats night, dusk, dawn and bad weather with poor visibility as periods of darkness. It asks that a shift running from daylight into darkness uses a garment suitable for darkness. Extra retroreflective tape around the movable joints, on shirt sleeves and trousers, creates a "biomotion" effect that further improves visibility in periods of darkness. In Queensland, traffic controllers working in darkness must wear biomotion tape on shirts, weatherproof garments and trousers. Road authorities can set their own clothing rules for traffic control work. The Queensland Traffic Controller Clothing Standard is one example. One example of a garment named as Class N is the Portwest Hi-Vis X Back Class N Shirt L/S MX303WHR. Check the traffic management plan and the road authority rules for your state.
What should construction, warehouse and mining crews wear?
Safe Work Australia's traffic management guides for construction and for warehousing say high visibility or reflective clothing should be worn by workers, plant operators and pedestrians at the workplace. A signal person wearing high visibility clothing should help a driver who cannot see clearly behind the vehicle, and the driver should always be able to see the signaller. Where forklifts and other powered mobile plant operate, workers, visiting drivers and other pedestrians should wear high visibility clothing.
Mining and rail sites and principal contractors can set their own clothing rules, so ask the site for its rules on colour, class and tape layout before you buy. One example of a garment named as Class D/N is the Portwest Hi-Vis Class D/N Cotton Comfort Contrast Polo Shirt L/S MP413.
How should hi-vis fit and layer?
The hi-vis layer should be the outermost layer and should not be covered by a jacket, backpack or harness that hides it. If a jacket goes over a hi-vis shirt, the jacket needs to be hi-vis too. Pick sizes that fit over winter layers without being so loose they snag. Hi-vis rain jackets and fleeces suit cold or wet shifts. For hot days, the Queensland traffic controller clothing standard suggests garments that are light weight and allow maximum air flow. Some hi-vis shirts are listed against AS/NZS 4399 for sun protection. Taped trousers, such as the WORKIT Cotton Drill Work Pants with Biomotion Tape, add tape below the waist.
How do you wash and care for hi-vis?
Follow the care label on each garment for washing, drying and ironing. The garment standard has a section on labelling and instructions. Wash dirty garments because grime dulls the fluorescent fabric and the tape. Do not iron or treat the tape unless the label allows it. Check each garment after washing and before a shift for faded fabric and damaged tape. Store garments clean and dry when not in use.
Give each worker enough garments to rotate so a clean one is always ready. Treat garments with damaged tape or heavy contamination as ready for replacement rather than washing them again. When in doubt, ask the supplier or check the manufacturer instructions.
When should you replace hi-vis garments?
The Queensland Traffic Controller Clothing Standard says traffic controller clothing must be clean, in good order and not faded. That is a useful test for any hi-vis garment.
- The fabric is faded or permanently stained
- Tape is cracked, peeling, missing or no longer shines back in light
- The garment is torn
- The manufacturer instructions say to replace it
Keep a simple record of when garments are issued so worn ones are swapped out, and follow the manufacturer instructions and the standard the garment is listed against.
How do you buy hi-vis for a team?
Before you place an order, work through these points with the site.
- Confirm the site rules for colour and class
- Match the class to each shift (day, night or both)
- Plan for weather (rain jacket, fleece)
- Collect sizes before ordering
- Keep spare vests for visitors and visiting drivers
- Order enough to rotate garments through washing
Our trade buying page brings together quick order by SKU, product quote requests, account sign in and a trade account application enquiry. If you already have the SKUs, quick order lets you paste a list of SKUs and quantities or import a CSV and add the exact matches to the cart in one step. For a larger order, request a quote with the product names or SKUs, quantities, a required-by date, delivery or pickup preference and postcode. Availability is confirmed with the quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is Class D hi-vis enough for a night shift?
No, Class D is for daytime use. Night work needs garments with retroreflective tape such as Class N or Class D/N, and a shift that runs into darkness needs a garment for darkness.
Should we choose orange or yellow hi-vis?
Both fluorescent yellow and fluorescent orange-red are used on Australian worksites. The Queensland Traffic Controller Clothing Standard lists both as suitable for traffic controller garments, but not red. The choice is usually set by the site, the client or a road authority, so check the site rules and keep one colour across a crew if the site asks for it.
Can we use garments tested to EN ISO 20471?
EN ISO 20471 is the European and international high visibility clothing standard. Some garments in our range are listed against it. Check whether your site or client accepts it or asks for AS/NZS 4602.1.
Does a hi-vis vest replace other traffic controls?
No. Safe Work Australia's traffic guidance puts PPE such as high visibility clothing after separation, engineering and administrative controls, to minimise the risk that remains.
When should a hi-vis garment be replaced?
A garment that is faded, stained, torn or has damaged tape should be replaced. The Queensland traffic controller standard asks for clothing that is clean, in good order and not faded. Follow the manufacturer instructions.
For help choosing hi-vis for your crew, call 1300 078 277 or visit our contact page.
Shop hi-vis and workwear
- Portwest hi-vis workwearHi-vis vests, shirts, jackets and fleeces
- Workwear apparelWork shirts, pants, jackets and vests
- Bisley workwearTaped and plain shirts, pants and jackets
- WORKIT workwearHi-vis polos, pants and rainwear
- Protective clothing and coverallsCoveralls and protective garments
- Portwest coveralls and FR workwearCoveralls and flame resistant workwear
- Head protection and accessoriesHard hats, bump caps and sun hats
- Traffic cones, bollards and barriersCones, bollards and barriers for work zones
Related guides
- PPE in Australia: a complete guide for workplacesHow to choose, fit and replace each type of PPE
- Workplace safety checklistEight areas to check on any worksite
- Safety boots guide: AS/NZS 2210.3 and S1 to S3Toe caps, the SB, S1, S2 and S3 classes, soles, fit and when to replace safety boots.
- Working in heat: heat stress guideControls for hot days, hydration, shade and breaks, cooling gear and sun protection.
Sources
- Standards Australia, High visibility safety garments, Part 1: Garments for high risk applications.
- Safe Work Australia, Workplace traffic management: guidance material.
- Safe Work Australia, Traffic management: Guide for construction work.
- Safe Work Australia, Traffic management: Guide for warehousing.
- Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Traffic Controller Clothing Standard.
