On a construction or civil site, the principal contractor decides what gets through the gate. Their site rules usually cover hi-vis, sleeves, footwear and head protection. A crew member in the wrong gear can be turned away at induction. Sorting the uniform before the job starts saves that conversation.
Start with the site rules
Before you order, get the PPE requirements from the induction pack or ask the principal contractor. Look for:
- Whether day or day/night hi-vis is required, and in which colour
- Whether long sleeves and long pants are compulsory
- Rules on logos, such as where they can sit or whether the principal contractor's name must show
- Head, eye, hearing and hand protection for the tasks your crew does
Australian standards cover hi-vis garments, and many sites name the type they expect. If the paperwork is unclear, ask the site before you buy. Then we can match garments to the rules instead of guessing.
Building sites and roadworks
Building crews on a fenced site during daylight hours may only need day hi-vis. Civil work is often a different story. Roadworks and drainage jobs can mean night closures and work beside live traffic. Day/night hi-vis with reflective tape lets drivers and plant operators pick out your people in headlights.
Many builders like two-tone shirts, with hi-vis fabric on the top half and navy or charcoal below. They hide dirt better and still put the fluorescent colour where it is most visible. Confirm your site accepts them first.
Our hi-vis range covers shirts, polos, vests and jackets in day and day/night styles.
Workwear that copes with the job
Concrete and mud are hard on clothes. Cotton drill shirts and cargo pants from Bisley and DNC are common picks because they hold up to daily wear and repeated washing. Knee pad pockets help on formwork and tiling.
For winter and wet weeks, add hi-vis rain jackets and softshells. The outer layer is what gets seen, so it needs to be hi-vis as well. Portwest has a wide wet weather range. Browse the full workwear range for pants, shorts, overalls and boots.
PPE in the same box
Hard hats, safety glasses, earmuffs and gloves can come in with the uniform order. We supply PPE from Paramount Safety and PIP, so a new starter can be fully kitted from one delivery. See our PPE page for the range.
Logos that stay visible
Keep logos on the fluorescent fabric and clear of the reflective tape. Left chest and upper back are the usual spots. A back logo also helps supervisors tell one contractor from another on a busy site.
Embroidery suits chest logos on drill shirts and vests. For a large back print on a lightweight hi-vis shirt, DTF printing keeps the garment light.
Kitting out new starters
Crews change from job to job. Keep a few spare shirts and pants in the common sizes, so a new labourer can start in uniform on day one. Order women's and men's fits, so everyone on the crew gets a shirt that fits properly.
After your first order, keep a record of the garment codes and logo placement. Later orders then match the first batch. Most orders are completed within 10 business days.
Call 02 4228 3508 or send us your site requirements and we will put a kit together for your crew.