Personalised Hi-Vis: Adding a Logo Safely
By The Velocity Wear Team
Personalised hi-vis gets nearly five hundred UK searches a month, mostly from contractors, logistics firms, event companies and councils. Adding your logo to hi-vis is common and useful. It helps the public identify your crew. But hi-vis is personal protective equipment, and branding it carelessly can make it less effective.
The standard: EN ISO 20471
Most professional high-visibility clothing in the UK is certified to EN ISO 20471. It sets minimum areas of fluorescent background material and retroreflective tape, grouped into classes. Class 3 offers the most visibility, class 1 the least. Which class your workers need depends on your risk assessment, the environment and any site or client requirements.
Why decoration matters
A garment is certified with a minimum amount of visible fluorescent and reflective material. A large logo printed over the background, or embroidery over the tape, can reduce those areas. On a garment that only just meets its class, a big back print could take it below the minimum.
Branding rules of thumb
- Never print, embroider or stick anything over retroreflective tape.
- Keep logos small and in areas away from tape, such as the chest above the tape band.
- Check the manufacturer's guidance on the maximum decoration area for that garment.
- Where a large back logo is needed, consider a garment designed with a print area.
- Keep documentation showing the decorated garment still meets its class if required by clients.
Employer duties
Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations, employers must provide suitable PPE where risks can't be controlled in other ways, and it must be provided free of charge. Since 2022 those duties also cover many limb (b) workers. The Health and Safety Executive publishes guidance. This article is general information, not safety advice for your site.
Hi-vis vs branded workwear
A navy polo with a logo isn't hi-vis. A yellow t-shirt isn't certified hi-vis either. Where hi-vis is required, workers need certified garments. Many firms issue branded polos or softshells for general wear and certified hi-vis vests or jackets on top when needed.
Ordering personalised hi-vis
Tell us the class you need, the garment type, and where you want the logo. We'll advise on placement that keeps tape clear. Our jackets and outerwear range includes hi-vis options, with a minimum of 20 per design and sizes mixed. Production takes 10 to 15 working days after artwork approval.
Choosing the right class
Your risk assessment should decide the class, not the price. Roadside work, rail environments and busy logistics yards typically call for higher classes. Some clients and principal contractors set their own site rules too. If in doubt, ask the site or client before ordering.
Events and stewarding
Event stewards commonly wear hi-vis vests with STEWARD or SECURITY printed on the back. Keep text clear of reflective tape and follow any requirements from the event's safety plan or licensing authority.
Storage
Store hi-vis clean, dry and away from direct sunlight, which fades fluorescent fabric.
Ask before you print
If you're unsure whether a logo would affect certification, ask the garment manufacturer or your safety adviser before ordering.
Care and replacement
Hi-vis garments lose effectiveness as fluorescent material fades and tape wears. Follow the care label, which usually specifies a maximum number of washes, and replace garments that are faded, dirty or damaged.
