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When and Why is High-Visibility Clothing Required?
12/03/2024
High-visibility clothing is essential for your safety in many industries across Australia.
High-visibility garments allow you to be seen by vehicle operators and others, reducing the risk of accidents on worksites.
The Standards Australia committee has established high visibility standards that workwear manufacturers must meet.
These standards help ensure the high-visibility clothing you wear provides you with adequate visibility and safety as you work.
Overview of High Visibility Standards
Standards Australia first published high visibility standards in 1997 as AS/NZS 4602.
This standard was updated and replaced in 2010 by the current AS/NZS 1906 standard.
The new AS/NZS 1906 standard outlines specific performance requirements for the background materials, retroreflective materials, and combined performance materials used in high-visibility garments.
Specifically, garments are classified into 3 visibility classes based on the amount of background material and retroreflective material used. For example, class D is for drivers/vehicle operators, Class N is for night use, and Class D/N is a combined standard.
Key Requirements of AS/NZS 1906
The AS/NZS 1906 standard specifies minimum areas of background material for each garment class.
For example, class D upper body garments need at least .5 square meters of background material. It sets photometric performance requirements for the background materials to ensure adequate visibility.
The standard defines minimum widths for retroreflective stripes on garment trims to maximize reflectivity. It also specifies photometric performance and durability requirements for the retroreflective materials used. AS/NZS 1906 includes care labeling requirements to help maintain visibility and retroreflectance through proper washing.
Furthermore, the standard covers accessories too, like minimum areas for high visibility hats, armbands, and gloves.
Importance of Compliance for Your Workwear
By law, any high-visibility workwear used on Australian worksites must meet AS/NZS 1906 to ensure you have adequate visibility. Non-compliant garments pose unnecessary safety risks.
Workwear suppliers must have their high-visibility products tested and certified by accredited laboratories to show they meet all aspects of AS/NZS 1906.
That means, following the standard during design and manufacturing is mandatory. In fact, Australian regulators conduct audits and can impose penalties or recalls if they find non-compliant garments.
Compliance protects workwear companies and more importantly, protects you by ensuring the garments meet all legal visibility requirements.
Conclusion
The high-visibility workwear you wear stands between you and potential on-site traffic hazards as you work. AS/NZS 1906 creates clear standards for visibility to maximize your safety on the job.
Workwear companies must continually ensure their products are fully compliant with all requirements of AS/NZS 1906 through proper design, testing, and manufacturing.
When you provide your employees with compliant high-visibility clothing, everyone benefits through reduced safety risks and safer work environments.
That said, if you’re unsure how to find the right workwear manufacturer that follows AS/NZS 1906 standards, your search ends here.
ACI Workwear is Australia's leading workwear supplier, specializing in high-visibility garments that meet or exceed all AS/NZS 1906 standards. Our expert team handles the entire compliant product process from design to sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery.
We also offer a wide range of styles using certified high-visibility fabrics with options to customize reflective stripes, logos, and features.
Contact us today to learn more about our AS/NZS 1906 certified high-visibility workwear.
