Investing in a professional companywide uniform is a well-established and widely proven marketing tool. Uniforms are a cohesive way of improving your business image and increasing brand awareness while also confidently extending your workplace culture and positively impacting the customer experience.

If you haven’t already, now is the time to put a professional uniform together for your business. But where do you start?

12 Things To Consider When Choosing Uniforms For Employees

When choosing a uniform for staff, there’s a bit more to it than just picking out a tee shirt and cap—wondering how to design the perfect uniform? We have put together this handy guide to help you get the basics right. Read on to discover the top 12 things to remember when designing a professional employee uniform.

1. Industry Regulations

Ensuring your workplace uniform is compliant with the necessary industry regulations is a priority; otherwise, the whole process will be worthless. Taking into account any specific rules and regulations surrounding workwear in your industry is an essential first step in designing the best uniform.

In Australia, a range of government standards outline the required obligations for clothing across various industry sectors. An excellent example is the Hi-Vis workwear worn by the rail industry workers. Their clothing safety standards are built around the type of clothing worn, its colours, fabrics and the placement of reflective materials etc.

2. Safety First

Another equally important factor when choosing staff uniforms is ensuring your employees’ ongoing safety. Although uniforms must adhere to all relevant safety standards (both externally (governmental) and internally (company-specific)), wearing uniforms that are poorly designed can quickly endanger employees’ health and safety in ways that could have been prevented.

This could mean anything from loose-fitting clothing that could get caught in heavy machinery to using unsuitable fabrics or colours. Some examples of safety-based uniform essentials might be flame retardant clothing, steel toe boots, and PPE.

3. The Fabric

Choosing the right fabric is a crucial step in the uniform design process. A few of the main characteristics that need to be considered are breathability, flexibility and visual appearance. Employees who are required to bend, lift and move about regularly on the job will need flexible materials with high breathability.

In contrast, those working outdoors will require some degree of weatherproofing capabilities, and UV protection, etc. Company image is also a factor in the fabric choice, some fabrics won’t stand up to repeated washing or everyday use while still looking good, meaning high replacement rates or employees might end up looking slightly shabby. Fabric choice also relies heavily on appearances, for example, sweatshirt fabric may not be the right brand image for office workers.

4. Comfort/Practicality

Comfort is the key to a uniform worn well. Suppose employees don’t feel comfortable in what they are wearing? In that case, their confidence slumps and, as a result, customer service levels, thus negating one of the benefits of having a uniform, to begin with. A high level of comfort means a more practical uniform that focuses on making the job easier, not harder. It is also more likely to be used regularly rather than staff making personal non-uniform substitutions.

Fabric quality is a large factor in comfort, as is the garment’s design and practicality on the job. An example of poor comfort and practicality would be providing an outdoor jacket to workers that was not waterproof, rendering the jacket useless and forcing staff to provide their own makeshift solutions.

5. Colour Consistency

The number one rule for uniform colours is that they should always reflect your brand. Colour consistency is the key to branding success, now is not the time to go rogue and introduce a brand new colour scheme to the mix – unless rebranding is your primary purpose, of course! Always stick with established colours from your regular branding and/or logo, perhaps mixed with elements of black or white for neutral additions if necessary.

If in doubt, do a bit of research into the psychology of colours and the role the different colours play in marketing. So remember, if your signage, stationery, logo and other marketing material is red – stick with red, don’t go choosing bright green tee shirts for your new uniform!

6. Style Strategies

The style of your uniform can make a direct statement about your brand. Just be sure it makes that right statement. Good work uniform design relies on knowing the brand inside out, believing in the customer demographic and having a good understanding of employee responsibilities.

There is no point in designing an ultra-cool uniform if it doesn’t make any sense in real world terms. Style trends are great, but remember to consider your whole marketing strategy, making sure the style of your uniform fits – both the business and the person!

7. Durability

One of the most important factors when choosing the right uniform is how well your uniforms stand up to daily wear and tear. Nobody wants to have to purchase new uniforms all the time or deal with the ongoing hassle of faulty uniforms needing constant repairs.

Durability is all about ensuring the uniform lasts as long as possible while maintaining a well-presented appearance. Generally speaking, you want to look for quality garments which in most cases can be narrowed down to two elements – quality fabrics and quality manufacturing. It is also necessary to consider the daily duties performed by employees to assess the level of durability required.

8. Company Branding

When uniforms are implemented well in the workplace, they become a prominent visual part of your brand. In doing so, uniforms represent and communicate the very core of your business by way of its employees, it is vital that this form of communication is well represented. Adding your brand logo or company imagery to uniforms is a great way of going about this.

Whether you choose embroidery or screen printing, there are pretty much unlimited options for adding your brand to all of the usual uniform staples. See here for more on the pros and cons of embroidery vs screen-printed apparel. When it comes to branding uniforms, always remember that consistent branding choices help increase customer’s familiarity with your company. This familiarity increases trust in your reputation and, by association, your brand – so it follows that ultimately, customers who trust in your brand are far more likely to buy from you.

9. Upfront And Ongoing Costs

The cost of uniforms will always be a consideration for any business. Therefore, it makes good business sense to set a budget and stick to it. A few tips for budgeting for uniforms are to be realistic, consider the short and long-term costs, and think about primary goals and what you are trying to achieve.

Will there be multiple options for different employees? How often are new employees hired? How often do the uniforms need to be replaced? When considering uniform costs, set your focus on finding the perfect balance between quality and quantity, and you can’t go wrong.

10. Consultation With Employees

Allowing for employee input is a great way of getting some real-world feedback before accidentally committing to the wrong kind of uniforms. Consulting employees can avoid some of the most common uniform mistakes such as impracticality, unsuitability for the tasks at hand and poor wearability.

Think of it as part of ensuring employee satisfaction with the new uniforms (and the associated pride and uptake) by designing uniforms that employees like to wear. This means something tasteful and appropriate for all ages, sizes and genders that remains respectful to both employees and the company.

11. Greater Personalisation

Budget permitting, you might want to think about the personalisation of uniforms. This usually entails displaying employee names and or roles on their uniform items. Meaning the uniform is designed specifically for each individual employee.

For some businesses, incorporating the names of employees into the design may be beneficial, however, there can be a number of privacy issues surrounding this concept as well as additional costs in the case of high staff turnover.

12. Finding A Trusted Supplier

Now you know how you want this uniform to look, how many you need, what extras you want to include such as corporate branding and how much you want to spend; the next step is finding a reliable supplier who can meet these requirements in a timely manner.

It may seem a little challenging to find a good supplier who can meet your quantity, quality and design needs, but they are out there. A few things to look for in a supplier are; good quality products, reliability and flexibility. One of the best ways to go about finding a great supplier is to ask around, if you see a good uniform on another similar business’s employees, why not ask them who their supplier is? You could also do a bit of research online via customer reviews and social media.

Interested in finding out more about the benefits of branded workwear? Or have some questions about choosing the right uniform for your business – get in touch with the wholesale workwear and uniform experts at Big Branding in Seaford, Victoria.

All of Australia operates under stringent workplace health and safety laws designed to identify, assess and manage workplace safety risks and hazards. Increasing worker visibility is an integral part of this process, especially within the rail safety management sector.

The close proximity of rail workers to trains and other heavy machinery means that it’s imperative that rail workers are highly visible in all weather conditions and at all times of the day or night. Hi vis workwear has long been a logical aid in the effort to reduce the risk of accident and injury for rail industry workers because it provides instantly recognisable visibility and identification.

What Are The Australian Standards For Hi Vis Clothing?

It is important that both employees and employers know what is required to meet the Australian Government’s safety workwear requirements. There are several Australian Safety Standards that apply to the workwear industry and outline the requirements for specific types of work clothing, including for his vis, static electricity, waterproofing, sun protection, flame resistance and labelling. For Vic Rail his vis the following Standards are the main ones encountered when selecting workwear.

• AS/NZS 4602.1:2011. This Standard specifies the structure of the garment, including its minimum design requirements such as coverage and positioning of reflective material. This Standard also defines three general classifications used to categorise hi vis garments; Class D (for outdoor use during the daytime only), Class N (night-time use only) and Class D/N (for use both during the day and night).
• AS/NZS 1906.4:2010 Part 4. This Standard specifies more on the colours allowed for high visibility safety garments while also covering the materials used in their manufacture.
• AS/NZS 4399:2017. This Standard provides information regarding the ability of the garment to provide protection from UV radiation – known as the Ultraviolet Protection Factor UPF. This one is particularly important for workers who are outside for long periods of time.
• AS/NZS 1020:1995. This Standard provides recommendations about the ability of the garment to reduce undesirable static electricity to assist in reducing the possibility of fires or explosions.
• AS/NZS 2622:1996, AS/NZS 2392:1999 and AS/NZS 1957:1998. These standards outline the methods for labelling the fibre content of products, methods for permanent labelling, and the care instructions needed to look after the garment properly.
• AS 2001.2.18-1987. This Standard outlines the water-repellent/water-resistant qualities of garment and breathability requirements.

Vic Rail Workwear Requirements

While railway workers fully appreciate the importance of hi vis gear and the extra visibility it provides, compliant garments are just the beginning. High-performing, high-quality workwear that is breathable and comfortable is the aim, along with a unified corporate identity. For Vic Rail, this has meant the development of their own Victoria State-specific hi vis rail wear.

If you are looking to purchase Vic Rail compliant clothing specifically, here is a summary of the conditions that must be met.

As defined by the Australian/NZ standards:

• Coverage. There must be at least 0.2 square metres of uninterrupted fluorescent material on the front and back of any hi-vis vest or another type of garment for daytime wear and 0.4 for nighttime.
• Reflective Tape (R Tape). Any reflective tape must be at least 50 mm wide and only placed in specified positions on the garment.
• Logos And Branding. Printing the business name or logo on hi vis workwear is permitted as long as it does not cover any of the reflective areas and still meets the ‘free space’ requirements of 0.2 square metres.

Vic Rail Specifics

• Colours. Vic Rail workers are required to wear hi vis ‘burnt’ orange. This is because this colour of orange contrasts better against the landscapes that are commonly seen around the rail network in Australia.
• Shoulder Stripes. Vic Rail complaint workwear requires 50mm reflective tape (R Tape) strips over both shoulders. These stripes do not meet.
• Waist Stripes. Two R Tape stripes are required around the upper waist of vests and tops. Front chest pockets are also a common feature in shirts, the R Tape will
• Arms. Arms must have 2 R Tape bands around each of them. Adding underarm venting squares up to 10cm x 10cm in size is also permitted.
• Trousers. Pants must be navy and also have two stripes of R Tape around the lower half of the legs.

It is worth noting that the placement of the stripes on the arms and legs is to aid in better referencing the body’s movements.  This type of reflective wear is referred to as ‘Bio Motion’.

Top 3 Tips For Buying Vic Rail Hi Vis

Selecting the right safety clothing can sometimes be confusing, so we have put together these 3 top tips to help you choose the most suitable hi-vis clothing for rail workers.

1. Double Check The Safety Standards. Always make sure what you are buying actually meets the required standards. Your supplier does not always know what your specific needs are; do not assume that they have checked that the garment is compliant.
2. Stick To The Right Colours. It may sound simple, but there are a lot of variations on hi vis workwear out there, and for Vic Rail employees, burnt orange is the colour you need to provide maximum visibility.
3. Comfort Is Key. People need to wear these garments all day. Making sure they are going to be comfortable is the best way to ensure the satisfaction and safety of the wearer. Look for breathability, fabric care and capabilities, along with making sure they are fit for purpose. If you’re too hot or get wet, you may find you’re not paying attention – this is when accidents occur.

How Often Should Hi Vis Workwear Be Replaced?

Typically hi-vis garments that are worn regularly should be replaced every 3-6 months. In addition, regular inspections are recommended to check for any signs your hi-vis workwear may have faded, deteriorated, been soiled or damaged, meaning it may no longer meet the requirements of the Australian Safety Standards.

Branding Hi-Visibility Workwear

Adding your logo or business name to your workwear carries the additional bonus of providing a professional image while extending brand representation companywide. However, when it comes to hi vis workwear, care must be taken in order to avoid jeopardising the ability of the garment to meet the requirements of the Australian Safety Standards.

For example; Day compliance hi vis workwear must meet the 0.2 m2 coverage on both the front and back of the garment. As a general rule, a log the size of 10cm x 10cm will allow the garment to remain within the boundaries of compliance.

3 Techniques Suitable For Branding Hi Vis Workwear

1. Embroidery

Embroidery provides an accurate, flexible, durable and hard-wearing option, and they are one of the most popular choices for his vis workwear. Embroidered logos can be positioned in a number of locations. Embroidery can be used on hi-vis polos, hi-vis shirts, vests and overalls, pants, shorts, hi-vis jackets, hoodies and polar fleece jumpers, as well as hats, caps and beanies. It is important to note, however, embroidery may not be suitable when seeking to maintain the water-resistant properties of the garment.

2. Screen Printing

Screen printing is a popular alternative to embroidery that offers an economical solution to branding some garments. Screen printing is best suited to fabrics that allow the ink to permeate the material and isn’t always suitable for all hi-vis fabrics, particularly if the fabric has been treated with waterproof coatings.

3. Custom Tags

A subtle way of adding branding to clothing, printing custom tags is best done at the point of manufacture; however, they must still meet the requirements of the Safety Standards mentioned above. This can be a good strategy for hi vis clothing when you don’t want to clutter up its fluorescent and reflective areas.

With years of experience in providing quality workwear and uniforms, BIG Branding understands what it takes to keep rail workers safe on the job. We’re proud to provide a range of affordable rail workwear that can help increase your visibility while ensuring compliance with all the relevant safety regulations. Our assortment of rail compliant workwear for VIC Rail includes long sleeve shirts, polar fleeces, jackets, and vests, all featuring the distinctive reflective strips in the VIC Rail configurations. Shop online to see our range or contact the team today for a quote or to answer any questions you may have.

You don’t have to go far these days without spotting someone in a hi vis vest or some kind of reflective safety clothing. Hi vis workwear is commonly used for all sorts of jobs including roadworks, railways, traffic management, farming, construction, manufacturing, airport operations, warehousing, security, police, fire and even for recreational use in cycling, running and walking.

The popularity of this clothing both in the workplace and for recreational use stems from its ability to increase its wearer’s visibility, aiding in the prevention of accidents and injuries. In fact, hi vis clothing has become a must-have for any situation where there is a need for the wearer to be highly visible from a distance at any time of day.

What Is High-Visibility Clothing And Why Is It Important?

Using a combination of fluorescent fabric and reflective tape to achieve the highest levels of visibility, hi vis clothing is designed with the sole purpose of making the wearer more visible with the view to increasing personal safety.

Hi-Vis clothing is perhaps most commonly recognised in vest form, but it is also available in a wide range of clothing styles including jackets, shirts, trousers, overalls, hoodies and hats.

Due to the safety aspect of its daily use hi vis clothing is categorised as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and for compliance must have an AS/NZS High Visibility Safety Garments Safety Standards label defining the garment characteristics and suitability for use.

All hi visibility products must meet AS/NZ Standards in order to display the official safety Standards label. The AS/NZS marking lets consumers know that the product they are buying meets the minimum coverage requirements and is suitable for use as safety clothing. Without this label, the garment cannot be rated as hi visibility workwear and is, therefore, ‘Non-Compliant’.

High Visibility Safety Standards Explained

There are two main industry Standards governing the industry requirements for high visibility safety garments; these are:

1. AS/NZS 4602.1:2011

This Standard provides manufacturers and businesses who work within the relevant industries with minimum design requirements for all high visibility safety garments. Specifically addressing design features, minimum coverage amounts, positioning of background material, the minimum amount and allowable position of the retroreflective tape for the front and back of the garment how measurements are taken.

This Standard defines the three general classifications used to categorise hi vis garments:

• Class D. For outdoor use during the daytime only. Fluorescent or other non-retroreflective high visibility material.
• Class N. Night-time use only, comprising retroreflective elements on an unspecified background.
• Class D/N. For use both during the day and night, made from a combination of reflective tape on a fluorescent or other non-retroreflective high visibility background material.

2. AS/NZS 1906.4:2010 Part 4

Part 4 of this Standard specifies more information on the colours that are required to meet the Standards for high visibility safety garments, while also covering the materials to be used in the manufacture of high visibility safety clothing.

Who Invented High Visibility Clothing?

American Bob Switzer is the person credited to inventing hi vis clothing back in the 1930s. The story goes that while healing from a workplace accident, Bob and his brother Joe experimented with chemicals they used in magic tricks for entertainment purposes.

Bob continued experimenting after he was well and using his wife’s wedding dress as a test subject discovered a way to use the fluorescent chemicals he had created to apply them to fabric. This product was originally named ‘Day Glo’ paint and was later developed into the fluorescent materials we see on hi visibility clothing today.

What Are The Hi Vis Colours?

All hi vis clothing in Australia and NZ is made in either a bright orange or fluorescent yellow colour. These are the only two colours that are acceptable by hi-vis clothing regulations.

Orange is used as it is considered the most visible against any given background. At the same time, yellow is also popular under certain circumstances, such as for emergency response professionals and police officers.

What Is Hi Vis Clothing Made From?

There are two types of hi vis clothing;

1. Reflective Hi Vis Clothing. Most often seen in traffic control situations this includes the use of reflective strips or tape used in conjunction with orange or yellow background. This clothing is designed to stand out at its best when light shines on it, such as the headlights of a car.
2. Fluorescent Hi-Vis Clothing. This type of clothing is very bright in its own right and is made used special dyes. Fluorescent his vis clothing is not as effective in low light situations and is best for daylight applications.

Manufacturing Requirements For Hi Vis Clothing

Not all hi vis gear is created equal – there are specific requirements set out by the AS/NZS Standards mentioned above to regulate the production of hi vis products.

• Coverage. There must be at least 0.2 square metres of uninterrupted fluorescent material on the front and back of any hi-vis vest or another type of garment. Reflective tape, logos, venting and all other additions do not add up to the required size of fluorescent material.
• Reflective Tape. Any reflective tape must be at least 5cm wide and only placed in specified positions on the garment.
• Branding. Company branding is permitted as long as it does not cover the reflective tape and still leaves the required free space of 0.2 metres.
• Venting. Adding underarm venting squares up to 10cm x 10cm in size is allowed.

5 Benefits Of Hi Vis Clothing

There is more to hi vis vests and helmets than meets the eye – take a look at our list of benefits to wearers and businesses using hi visibility garments below.

1. Safety Safety Safety. A safe work environment is the most important aspect of any hi vis clothing for any business.
2. Increased Accessibility. The brightly coloured vests or jackets make wearers instantly recognisable when in a crowd.
3. Improved Visibility. Finding someone in an emergency situation, whether it be a police officer for help or hikers lost in the bush, is much easier when they are clearly seen from a distance.
4. Easy Identification. Hi vis clothing is also able to be printed with company branding or individual specifics if required. This can make identification of the wearer easier as well as addressing ownership issues and promoting teamwork.
5. Brand Awareness. As long as it doesn’t interfere with the reflective/fluorescent components of the garment, it is possible to add a business logo, brand names or other specifics to all types of hi vis clothing – getting you brand out there in a highly visible way!

Hi Vis Workwear Example

The Rail network in Australia requires contractors working on or near the “Rail Corridor” to wear hi vis clothing that complies to the current Rail Standards. Railway compliant workwear is a good example of hi vis garments in action and a large consumer of industry specific hi visibility clothing.

In Australia, rail workers are required to wear hi vis orange. The reason hi vis orange was chosen over yellow is because the orange is a better contrast against the green landscapes that are a common backdrop for the rail network in Australia.

Within each State of Australia, there are variations to the requirements, all of which still fall within the High Visibility Safety Standards outlined above.

Vic Rail Compliant Workwear vs NSW

Vic Rail complaint workwear is easily identified by its unique ‘burnt orange’ colouring and requires Reflective Tape (R Tape) both over the shoulders and around the waist of vests and tops. There is one stripe placed over each shoulder and two around the waist. The two do not meet.

In contrast the NSW rail workers hi vis require an ‘X’ shape in R Tape on the back of the garment, two waist stipes at the back and one at the front which joins two over the should stripes. Pants for both must be navy and have two stripes of R Tape around the lower section of the leg. Arms must also have 2 R Tape bands around them.

This placement of stripes on the arms and legs is commonly referred to as ‘Bio Motion’ as the R Tape helps to identify the individual body’s movements. It is an excellent example of how hi vis clothing can increase the visibility of the wearer and aid in increasing safety measures on the job.

Not sure how the Australian hi vis Standards apply to your workplace, contact Big Branding and let them sort out all of your hi vis needs. We can assist you with fully compliant affordable and durable hi vis workwear that can help increase your visibility while meeting all the relevant health and safety regulations.