Hi-Vis Workwear Standards in BC — And Why Proper Laundering Matters

High-visibility clothing is required across a wide range of BC worksites — road construction, utilities, rail, traffic control, and any environment where workers are at risk from moving vehicles or equipment. The selection and provision of hi-vis garments get attention. The maintenance program — how garments are laundered, inspected, and retired — often doesn't.

This guide covers what BC employers need to know about hi-vis requirements, how laundering affects visibility performance, and what a well-run hi-vis program looks like in practice.

The standard that governs hi-vis apparel in Canada

CSA Z96 (High-Visibility Safety Apparel) is the Canadian standard for high-visibility workwear. It defines:

• Three performance classes (Class 1, 2, and 3) based on the area of fluorescent background material and retroreflective tape, corresponding to different risk environments
• Two types within each class — vest-style (separate garment) and combined (jacket, coverall, or integrated garment)
• Fluorescent background colours — yellow-green and orange-red are the two recognized colours under CSA Z96
• Minimum retroreflective tape widths and configurations for each class

WorkSafeBC's Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires employers to assess traffic and visibility hazards and provide appropriate PPE. For road work, flagging, and similar environments, CSA Z96 compliant hi-vis apparel is the applicable standard.

Class selection by risk level:

• Class 1 — lowest risk, off-road environments away from traffic (e.g., warehouses, parking lots)
• Class 2 — intermediate risk, roadway proximity, speeds up to 80 km/h
• Class 3 — highest risk, high-speed roadways, low-visibility conditions, complex backgrounds

For most BC road construction and traffic control environments, Class 2 or Class 3 is appropriate. When in doubt, select the higher class.

Why retroreflective performance degrades

Retroreflective tape — the silver strips that reflect headlights back toward the source — is the core safety function of hi-vis apparel at night and in low-light conditions. Unlike the fluorescent background (which relies on UV light absorption and is visible in daylight), retroreflective tape is what keeps workers visible to vehicle headlights.

Retroreflective tape is a layered structure with glass bead or microprismatic elements that reflect light back toward its source. This structure degrades with:

• Physical wear — abrasion from repeated contact with equipment, vehicles, and rough surfaces
• Heat — high washing temperatures can soften adhesives and distort the reflective layer
• Chemical exposure — chlorine bleach and harsh chemical detergents break down retroreflective materials
• Washing abrasion — aggressive tumbling or washing cycles cause physical degradation of the tape surface

A hi-vis vest can look clean and intact while its retroreflective tape has lost significant performance. The fluorescent background fades visibly, but retroreflective degradation often isn't visible until the garment is tested with a direct light source in darkness.

What proper laundering looks like for hi-vis garments

Manufacturer care labels are the primary reference for hi-vis laundering. That said, general best practices for maintaining hi-vis performance include:

Temperature. Most hi-vis garments should be washed at moderate temperatures — not the high-heat cycles appropriate for clinical laundry or industrial workwear with heavy soil. Check the care label. Many manufacturers specify 40°C or 60°C maximums.

No chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach is damaging to both fluorescent background material and retroreflective tape. It should not be used on hi-vis garments under any circumstances.

Gentle detergents. Heavy industrial detergents formulated for grease and hydrocarbon removal are typically too aggressive for hi-vis fabric and tape. Standard industrial laundry chemistry is generally appropriate.

Inside-out washing. Turning garments inside out before washing reduces abrasion on the outer surface — the surface that matters for visibility.

Low-heat drying. High dryer temperatures can damage retroreflective tape adhesives. Air drying is preferred where possible; low-heat tumble drying at manufacturer-specified temperatures is the alternative.

No softener. Fabric softener coats fibres and can reduce the luminance of fluorescent material over time.

Inspection and retirement criteria

Regular inspection of hi-vis garments is as important as proper laundering. Garments should be inspected before each use for:

• Retroreflective tape condition — lifting edges, cracks, fading, or sections that have separated from the garment
• Fluorescent background — significant fading reduces daytime visibility. If the background colour is noticeably less vivid than a new garment, retirement is appropriate
• Physical damage — tears, holes, or contamination (grease, paint, mud) that obscures fluorescent material

Retirement triggers:

• Retroreflective tape that shows visible degradation (cracking, peeling, or significantly reduced reflectivity when tested)
• Fluorescent background that has faded significantly
• Contamination that cannot be fully removed and obscures the fluorescent surface
• Damage to the structural integrity of the garment

There is no fixed wash cycle count that applies to all garments — the condition of the garment on inspection is the determining factor. Retiring too early is wasteful; retiring too late creates safety risk.

Building a hi-vis program that holds up

For operations with 10+ hi-vis garments in rotation, a managed laundering program is worth considering. The alternative — workers laundering their own hi-vis at home — introduces the same compliance risks as home laundering of FR garments: inconsistent temperatures, wrong detergents (bleach and softener are common), and no ability to verify that garments meet the care requirements.

A commercial laundering partner handling hi-vis garments should:

• Follow manufacturer care label specifications, not a one-size process
• Exclude bleach and softener from hi-vis wash cycles
• Use appropriate temperature settings (moderate, not high-temperature clinical cycles)
• Be able to handle hi-vis garments separately from heavy industrial workwear that requires different chemistry

Keep an inventory record. Know how many hi-vis garments you have in rotation, when they were put into service, and their current condition. This matters both operationally (knowing when to reorder) and for compliance documentation in the event of an incident.

Don't mix classes. If you have workers in different risk environments — some requiring Class 2, some Class 3 — track the garments separately. A Class 2 vest issued to a Class 3 environment is a compliance failure.

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The Laundry Brothers handles hi-vis vests, jackets, coveralls, and safety workwear for industrial businesses across Greater Vancouver. We follow manufacturer care specifications on hi-vis garments and exclude bleach and softener from our hi-vis wash process. Learn about our industrial workwear service or get a commercial quote.