Is Black Hi Vis Legal?

17 Oct 2025

Is Black Hi Vis Legal?

You are probably used to seeing those who work near traffic or heavy machinery wearing orange or yellow high visibility clothing while out on the job. These colours are used for hi vis clothing as they are fluorescent and provide a strong contrast against most backgrounds, helping to keep wearers visible and safe.

Black hi vis, on the other hand, does not meet the standards for being seen in high-risk environments (as put forward by the official hi vis standard EN ISO 20471) and therefore is not legal for situations that require official high visibility personal protective equipment (PPE). Read on to find out more about why black hi vis isn’t compliant and where it can be used!

Why Black Hi Vis Isn’t Compliant

To meet the specific standards of EN ISO 20471, official high visibility garments must have a bright, fluorescent background colours (like yellow or orange) to keep the wearer visible in all lighting conditions. In fact, the EN ISO 20471 specifically lists fluorescent yellow and orange as the only acceptable background colours for high-visibility workwear.

Black absorbs light rather than reflecting it back and therefore lacks the necessary fluorescence to keep workers safe and visible near hazards.

 

Where Can Black Hi Vis Be Used?

  • Low-Risk Environments: In environments where there is little or no risk from moving vehicles and machinery, black hi vis with retro-reflective strips can be adequate for visibility. Black hi vis is most commonly seen worn by door staff, security guards and festival workers.

  • Specialised Roles: In some specialised roles or specific company policies, black hi vis may be permitted if the risks are controlled through other means and the employee is not in a high-risk area.

  • Corporate Branding: Some companies use black hi vis clothing to identify staff on a worksite where the risk of traffic is minimal.

So, if you will be carrying out work in a low-risk environment that doesn’t require traditional brightly coloured hi vis, check out our collection of black hi vis clothing using the button below!

 

Browse Black Hi Vis Clothing

If you have any questions about our black hi vis or customisation processes, please get in touch with us at My Printed Clothing today.