Is an orange or yellow safety vest mandatory in construction?

On many construction sites you see employees wearing bright yellow or orange vests. But is that mandatory? And does it matter whether the vest is orange or yellow? These are questions that arise for many people in the construction industry, especially when they enter a new location or start a new project.

In this article we explain when a safety vest is mandatory in construction, what the rules are regarding color and standards, and what options are available.

Is a safety vest legally required?

There is no general law that requires everyone on a construction site to always wear a safety vest. Whether it is mandatory depends on the risk assessment of the work location. The Working Conditions Act requires employers to provide adequate protective equipment if the situation requires it, and visibility is included in many cases.

In practice, a safety vest is mandatory on most construction sites, as laid down in the project's Safety and Health Plan (VGP). On busy construction sites with machines, forklifts or moving traffic, visibility is a critical factor for the safety of everyone on site. Anyone who enters a construction site without a vest risks being turned back.

Orange or yellow: does the color matter?

Both yellow and orange are permitted colors for high visibility clothing. The EN ISO 20471 standard, which is the standard for high-visibility clothing, recognizes fluorescent yellow-green and fluorescent orange-red as approved colors. Yellow-green is the most commonly used color in construction and infrastructure and has the best visibility in daylight and at dusk.

Orange is more often used in specific sectors such as road construction or in Rijkswaterstaat projects, where the RWS standard applies. This standard sets additional requirements on top of EN ISO 20471 regarding the amount of reflective material and the color composition. It is always wise to check which color and standard requirements apply at the specific work location before purchasing the clothing.

Classes of visibility: class 1, 2 and 3

The EN ISO 20471 standard has three classes of visibility, based on the amount of fluorescent and reflective material. Class 1 provides the least protection and is suitable for low-risk, low-speed environments. Class 2 is most commonly used on construction sites and is the standard for most projects. Class 3 is mandatory when working along busy roads or in high-risk situations, such as on highways or with insufficient lighting.

A safety vest without standards does not meet the EN ISO 20471 requirements. Always check whether the garment is certified and which class applies to the work in question. A cheap vest from the hardware store without a CE marking is not allowed on many professional construction sites.

Safety clothing from Tricorp: a wide range

Tricorp offers a comprehensive safety line including several sub-lines, each responding to a specific need.

The High Vis Redefined line offers certified high visibility workwear that complies with EN ISO 20471, made from sustainable materials such as organic cotton and recycled polyester. From T-shirts and polo shirts to jackets and body warmers: everything in the recognizable fluorescent colors that guarantee visibility on the construction site.

Safety vests for the construction site

In addition to complete work clothing, Tricorp also offers separate safety vests. View the full overview safety vests for an overview of all available models, from standard vests to RWS certified variants and flame-retardant versions. A safety vest is a quick and affordable way to meet visibility requirements on the construction site.

Also pay attention to the maintenance of high visibility clothing. Fluorescent colors and reflective tapes lose their effectiveness over time, especially with intensive washing or exposure to sunlight. Replace worn or damaged safety vests in time so that visibility is always guaranteed.