For a civils contractor, workwear is part of the site's safety system and part of the client relationship. Clients often set clothing rules in the contract. Getting it wrong can mean operatives sent home from the gate.
Client rules come first
On civils schemes the client or principal contractor usually sets minimum PPE in the contract and site rules. That may include full-sleeve hi-vis at a set class, a specific colour, helmet colours by role, and glove and eye protection rules. Read the scheme requirements before you order, because kit that does not comply cannot be worn on site.
Railway work has its own rules: Network Rail infrastructure normally requires orange hi-vis to GO/RT 3279.
Exposed for months at a time
A civils site is rarely sheltered. Wind off a river or the sea cuts through thin layers. A layering system works best: thermal base layer, hi-vis fleece or sweatshirt, and an EN 343 waterproof hi-vis jacket on top. Over trousers for wet ground and safety wellingtons for flooded areas complete it.
Summer brings the opposite: long days, sun and heat on open earthworks. Breathable hi-vis polos help, if the site allows short sleeves.
Engineers, supervisors and operatives
A civils team mixes site engineers with laptops and levels, supervisors, plant operators and labourers. They need different kit. Engineers want light, pocketed hi-vis and a softshell that looks right in progress meetings. Operatives want tough, warm, waterproof layers. A consistent colour and logo across all of it shows the client one organised contractor. Women on the team need properly cut hi-vis and outerwear, not small men's sizes.
Where to put your logo
Civils clients often like to see a contractor's name clearly on every operative, and some ask for the scheme or client logo too. Print company names on the back of hi-vis jackets and vests, keeping to the fluorescent background and off the reflective tape; on class 3 garments a big logo can reduce the compliant area. Embroider softshells, polos and fleeces worn by engineers and managers. A Client Wardrobe shop lets each scheme order the right kit without mistakes.
Ordering for civil engineering contractors
Most civil engineering contractors start with hi-vis jackets and rainwear, hi-vis hoodies and fleeces and hi-vis trousers. You can order from one garment and add more as you take people on. The logo price drops at 9 and again at 25 garments, and every garment with a small logo counts towards it, so mixing styles and colours still gets the better price. Before anything is made, we embroider an actual sample of your logo and email you a photo to approve, or you can pop in to our Hull workshop to see it.
