As a construction worker, you’re all too familiar with the negative consequences associated with low-visibility clothing. Far too often, deaths and serious injuries occur on jobsites, as some professionals fail to wear correct clothing whenever they’re working in low light conditions.
To virtually eliminate any risk of accidents that may be detrimental to your health and well-being, you must wear high-visibility clothing, period—from your pants and gloves, to your shirts and helmets.
Such visibility is critical all year, including the summer months in which heat and humidity rise to uncomfortable levels. In order to ensure you’re comfortable, relatively dry and safe while working in low light this summer, consider buying one of the following five hi-vis, short-sleeve shirts.
3C Products Hi-vis, Short-sleeve Safety T-shirt
Due to its 2-in. reflective strips (three in all), this t-shirt will ensure you remain highly visible at all times, even as you work during night shifts. To further protect you whenever you’re conducting job tasks late into the night, the shirt is quite noticeable in another crucial way: it’s neon green/safety yellow. Therefore, forklift, truck and equipment operators will notice you well before you’re close to them.
As a result of its components, the shirt is durable too, as it can typically be washed dozens of times without any visible damage occurring. Considered “wrinkle free”, the shirt doesn’t have to be ironed before you wear it either, enabling you to wear it without worrying about creases. Created for nearly everyone, the shirt is available in eight sizes, ranging from small to 5XL, as well.
Best Features: 2-in. reflective strips; “wrinkle free” composition
Price: $7.00 – Buy the 3C Products Hi-vis, Short-sleeve Safety T-shirt
Carhartt Force Hi-vis, Short-sleeve Shirt
Comprised of 100% polyester, this 4.25-ounce shirt will ensure you remain comfortable during the peak of summer. After all, its fabric will wick away moisture, allowing you to work for hours on end in a steadily dry manner, as sweat won’t remain on your chest, shoulders, stomach or upper arms for long. For further comfort and dryness, the shirt is also very breathable.
Highly visible, as it’s comprised of 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material, the shirt meets ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 standards for high-visibility safety apparel. To increase its lifespan—and possibly wear it for several months to come—the shirt features Stain Breaker technology, too. As a result, it will maintain a practically fresh appearance long term, regardless of the conditions you work in. To maintain its durability, you must regularly machine wash it though.
Best Features: 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material; Stain Breaker technology
Price: $39.99 – Buy the Carhartt Force Hi-vis, Short-sleeve Shirt
Dazonity Safety Hi-vis T-shirt
Featuring 2-inch, high-visibility reflective strips, this t-shirt will provide consistent visibility as you work late night shifts this summer. First, the shirt not only has reflective strips on its chest, but its shoulders, too. Second, its reflective strips even cover its waist, leading to 360-degree protection while working in low light conditions.
For comfort all summer long, the shirt is relatively lightweight, as it only weighs roughly 0.35 pounds. Consequently, you’ll hardly notice you’re wearing it as you work in hot, humid conditions. Of equal importance, the breathable, light shirt—which is comprised of polyester birdseye mesh fabric—is durable as well, enabling you to possibly wear it for long durations. To ensure nearly everyone can wear it, the shirt is also available in several sizes, ranging from small to 3XL.
Best Features: 2-inch reflective strips on its chest, shoulders and waist; polyester birdseye mesh fabric
Price: $32.99 – Buy the Dazonity Safety Hi-vis T-shirt
Gildan DryBlend, Hi-vis T-shirt
Available in five sizes, ranging from small to 2XL, this t-shirt is renowned for its comfort, as it’s comprised of cotton (50%) and polyester (50%). Furthermore, it is relatively loose fitting, resulting in a high degree of motion as you conduct various job tasks all summer long. While completing these tasks, the shirt will offer you comfort in one other primary way: via its moisture-wicking technology, which will help you remain dry for several hours at a time.
In addition to its comfort, the shirt is highly visible, as it’s available in safety green (among countless other colors, including safety orange). Just as importantly, the shirt is built to last, as it utilizes double-needle stitching, along with a shoulder-to-shoulder neck tape. Not to mention, it has a double-needle pocket, sleeve and bottom hems, leading to further robustness.
Best Features: Loose fitting for a high range of motion; moisture-wicking technology
Price: $13.46 – Buy the Gildan DryBlend, Hi-vis T-shirt
Red Kap Hi-vis, Short-sleeve Shirt
Offering 360-degree visibility, as a result of its yellow and silver reflective strips, which are located on its front and back, this shirt will ensure you remain well seen all night. In turn, you’ll remain consistently safe on your jobsite this summer, no matter how late you need to work. Providing a highly visible color option—fluorescent yellow/charcoal—the shirt will protect you in another noticeable way, as it will also guard you from UVA and UVB rays, due to its UPF 40 rating.
Ranging in size from small to 5XL (eight sizes in all), the shirt is very comfortable, too. First, it’s comprised of two key components, leading to softness: cotton (35%) and polyester (65%). Second, each shirt is designed with a breathable, lightweight ripstop fabric, which wicks away moisture, enabling it to be worn on hot days.
Best Features: UPF 40 rating; yellow and silver reflective strips
Price: $41.99 – Buy the Red Kap Hi-vis, Short-sleeve Shirt
Why Buy Hi-Vis Shirts?
Make no mistake about it. High visibility is critical as you work in low light conditions. Even if the sun isn’t setting until later in the evening during the summer, don’t take any chances! Purchase one of these five hi-vis shirts as soon as possible, as you’ll not only maintain your comfort on hot, humid nights, but possibly save your life, too!
Aside from increasing your on-the-job visibility in the evening and at night, each of the hi-vis shirts will provide durability as well, another significant offering whenever you purchase any workwear item. To acquire long-term comfort and durability, while also enhancing your jobsite safety all summer long, IRONPROS advises you to buy hi-vis shirts as soon as you’re able!
