There is a reason Safety is a key pillar at Raby—construction is naturally dangerous work, and every team member must be focused on the protection of one another. Wearing our high-visibility yellow safety gear is an important part of the Raby uniform, so we thought it would be interesting to explore its origins.
The early concept of high-visibility clothing dates back to European railroad workers in the 19th century, but was introduced in the United States after a terrible accident. In the 1930s, a man named Bob Switzer was involved in an industrial accident that caused a head injury and put him into a coma. After waking from his coma, he followed his doctor’s orders and recovered in a dark room to help restore his vision.
Bob’s brother was a hobby magician who had been experimenting with fluorescent chemicals as part of his act. These chemicals absorbed ultraviolet light and re-emitted it as visible light, making colors appear brighter. He used them to entertain his brother while he recovered, leading to a curiosity about possible applications.
Once he was well, Bob combined the chemicals with wood varnish in his bathtub and eventually partnered with his brother to make the first fluorescent paint—which they dubbed “Day-Glo” for its glowing appearance during the daytime.
As the story goes, Bob even painted his wife’s wedding dress with fluorescent paint making the first piece of high-vis clothing.
From there, technology improved with the adaptation of Day-Glo during World War II to help increase soldier visibility and reduce instances of friendly fire. It was also adapted to the field of aviation, as wearable applications for ground crew and on fabric panels to send signals to pilots in the air.
High-visibility clothing truly took off in the 1970s when the US Federal Government passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) that made it mandatory for workers in specific occupations, such as highway construction.
In the 1990s, high-visibility clothing advanced in technology by adding reflective material (retroreflective materials) to make it even more effective in bright daylight. These materials reflect light directly back to their source, making wearers visible in low-light situations when illuminated by headlights or flashlights.
Yellow became the choice color because it is the brightest color on the chromaticity scale, and it is easily seen in many environments.
Today, high-visibility clothing is not just a requirement but a lifestyle staple for many people—from hobby cyclists to law enforcement officers, and of course, construction workers.
While safety gear might not necessarily be the most fashionable, it does an important job—making the construction site a safer space for all.