Construction Workwear Guide: What to Buy for Site Crews

Construction workwear is the clothing a crew wears on site: hi-vis, hard-wearing trousers, safety footwear, weather layers and any PPE the risk assessment calls for. In the UK, the employer decides what is needed from that assessment, pays for the PPE and checks it is worn properly. This guide covers what builders need, what the law says, and how to order for a whole team without costly mistakes.

TL;DR

• Workwear is not the first line of defence. HSE guidance treats PPE as a last resort, after hazards have been controlled at source.
• Employers must provide suitable PPE free of charge to workers exposed to risks that cannot be controlled another way.
• Match hi-vis class to the site: EN ISO 20471 sets three classes, and Class 3 gives the most visibility.
• Check the principal contractor’s site rules before buying boots, and test-wash a sample before a bulk order.
• Involve the crew in selection. Staff use equipment more reliably when they helped choose it.

Table of Contents

• What the law requires of employers
• The core kit for builders
• Hi-vis: choosing the right class
• Safety footwear
• Trousers and legwear
• Weather layers
• PPE beyond clothing: gloves, eyewear, helmets
• Keeping workwear in good condition
• Our view: what we would do when kitting out a crew
• Ordering for a whole team
• Common mistakes to avoid
• FAQ
• Sources

What the law requires of employers

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 require every employer to make sure suitable PPE is provided to workers who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety. HSE states that this PPE must be free of charge where a risk assessment shows it is needed. The regulations were amended in 2022 to cover limb (b) workers explicitly, so the duty is not limited to people on your payroll.

Two points matter for buyers:

1. Risk assessment first. The assessment says what the crew is exposed to, and the clothing list follows from it. There is no single list that fits every site.
2. PPE is the last resort. The HSE guidance in L25 says engineering controls and safe systems of work should come first. Clothing protects people from what remains.

The second point is easy to forget when ordering. Site dust, vermin, slips and housekeeping problems are often best reduced at source. For example, a site manager’s pest-control plan shows the same control-first thinking applied to one common site nuisance, although it comes from Singapore and the legal framework there differs.

For smaller contractors, HSE’s essential health and safety toolkit (INDG344) is a practical checklist that includes making sure people are trained, competent and supervised.

The core kit for builders

The table below sets out the usual building blocks of a site kit. Treat it as a starting point for your own risk assessment, not a legal list.

Hi-vis: choosing the right class

Hi-vis is the item most often specified by a principal contractor. EN ISO 20471 divides high-visibility clothing into three classes. Class 1 is the least conspicuous, such as waistcoats. Class 2 is intermediate, covering jackets and vests. Class 3 gives the most visibility and covers garments with sleeves and coveralls. Class 3 is typically required where there is live traffic or railway operations.

Practical rules for a buying decision:

• Ask the principal contractor which class is required before you order. Do not assume Class 2 is enough everywhere.
• Specify the garment type, not just the colour. A waistcoat and a long-sleeved jacket are different classes.
• Plan for replacement. HSE maintenance guidance makes the point that retroreflective strips lose visibility when dirty, and employers are responsible for keeping PPE in good condition. Budget for a spare set per worker so one can be washed while the other is worn.
• For visitors, many sites prefer low-cost, high-turnover options over laundering. That avoids excessive laundry costs for items that are used briefly.

Our custom hi-vis uniform range can be personalised with company branding, and the hi-vis coveralls and overalls are available for crews who need full-body coverage.

Safety footwear

Footwear is where site rules and product choice collide most often. HSE’s construction PPE guidance states that safety footwear should be CE or UKCA marked and meet EN ISO 20345, which includes toe protection and, depending on the risk assessment, midsole puncture resistance.

Two cautions:

• Rigger boots. They are common in trades, but the same HSE page notes that they are frequently banned on construction sites, because the loose fit raises the risk of ankle sprains and twists. Check the principal contractor’s policy before buying for the crew.
• Medical needs. Employers must pay for specialised footwear where a medical reason prevents a worker from wearing the standard issue.

If you want a lace-up hiker style, the Gritstone S3 safety hiker boot is listed in our range. Check the fit and the site policy before ordering for a full team.

Trousers and legwear

Trousers take the most punishment on a building site. Look for reinforced knees, stitching that holds at stress points, enough pockets for tools and fabric that survives repeated washing. Our range includes Bizweld™ trousers (BZ30) and ultimate modular 3-in-1 trousers, which suit crews who work across changing conditions.

On shorts: HSE’s position is that if a site policy does not allow shorts, workers must follow it, because clothing needs to protect against hazards on site. In summer, ask the site before issuing shorts to anyone.

Fabric weight and shrinkage

Two specifications cause the most disappointment on bulk orders:

• Fabric weight (GSM). A heavier garment generally wears longer but is warmer. Our guide to GSM for procurement teams explains what to put on the order.
• Shrinkage. A garment that fits on the first day and not after ten washes wastes the budget. Read why UK buyers should test wash before a bulk order.

Weather layers

Builders work outdoors in all conditions, so a waterproof jacket is part of the standard kit for many crews. The right waterproof rating depends on the role: a groundworker standing in rain all day has different needs from a site manager who walks between cabins. Our guide on matching waterproof jacket ratings to the role sets out how to choose.

For base layers, branded polo shirts, t-shirts and hoodies identify the company on site and are easy to replace. Where the team needs to be recognised by clients or visitors, consistent colours and logos matter as much as the fabric.

PPE beyond clothing: gloves, eyewear, helmets

The HSE page on using the right type of PPE walks through protection for each part of the body once your risk assessment shows what is needed. Two buying traps:

• Compatibility. HSE selection guidance warns not to assume all PPE works together. Safety glasses can break the seal of a respirator, and hard hats must be tested for compatibility with ear defenders.
• Helmet colours. Many principal contractors use colour-coded helmets. One contractor’s PPE standard lists white for managers and visitors, orange for slingers or signallers, and blue for inexperienced workers. Colour rules differ between companies, so confirm the one that applies to you.

Before you order branded items, our branded PPE guide lists what to check.

Keeping workwear in good condition

HSE says PPE must be looked after and stored properly when not in use, for example in a dry, clean cupboard, and reusable items must be cleaned and kept in good condition. In practice that means:

• Give each worker a place to store kit that is not the boot of a van.
• Set a replacement trigger: torn seams, faded or dirty reflective tape, split soles.
• Write down who is responsible for checking.

Cleanliness also applies to the site and welfare areas. A site cleaning safety checklist is a useful prompt for housekeeping routines, though it was written for Australia, so follow UK rules for anything regulated.

Our view: what we would do when kitting out a crew

We supply personalised, branded and custom workwear to construction companies and other sectors, so we see the same ordering problems repeat. These are the habits that we think save the most trouble:

• Start with the site, not the catalogue. Get the principal contractor’s requirements for hi-vis class, boots and helmets in writing, then build the order around them.
• Order a sample set first. Let two or three workers wear and wash it for a couple of weeks. They will find the issues with fit, pockets and shrinkage that a spec sheet will not.
• Brand the outer layer and the base layer. A logo on the hi-vis and polo shirt makes a crew recognisable. We offer embroidery and printing, and we send an artwork mock-up for approval before production.
• Think about the sustainability question early. If your tenders ask about it, look at our sustainable workwear range and read what each eco certification covers so you can answer accurately.

— Vinay

Ordering for a whole team

A process that works for most firms:

1. List roles. Groundworkers, carpenters, site managers, apprentices and visitors need different kit.
2. Write the specification. Hi-vis class, fabric weight, sizes, colours, logo placement.
3. Involve the crew. HSE advises that workers who help choose PPE are more likely to use it correctly.
4. Approve the artwork. Check the mock-up for logo size and position before embroidery or print.
5. Test and place the bulk order. Include a sizing run, and keep a stock of common sizes for new starters.

We provide personalised polo shirts, t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, PPE and hi-vis workwear, with embroidery and printing, bulk pricing and online ordering. Browse the full range or ask for a quote at cwear.co.uk.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying footwear before reading the site policy on boot styles.
• Choosing a hi-vis class by price rather than by the traffic and plant on site.
• Ordering one size run and no spares, so washing means going without.
• Treating clothing as a substitute for controlling the hazard.
• Skipping the test wash and finding out about shrinkage after 100 garments have been embroidered.

FAQ

What workwear do builders legally need to wear?

There is no single legal list. Employers must provide suitable PPE free of charge where a risk assessment shows it is needed, under the PPE at Work Regulations 1992. The site’s own rules, set by the principal contractor, often add requirements such as hi-vis class and boot type.

Do employers have to pay for workwear?

Employers must pay for PPE that the risk assessment requires, and the duty covers limb (b) workers since the 2022 amendment. HSE’s overview sets this out. Whether general branded clothing, such as a company polo shirt, falls under that duty depends on whether it is PPE, so check with HSE or your adviser.

Can builders wear shorts on site?

Only if the site policy allows it. HSE says that where a site bans shorts, workers must follow the rule, since clothing has to protect against hazards on site.

Which hi-vis class do I need?

It depends on the site. Class 3 offers the most visibility and is typically needed with live traffic or railway work. Ask the principal contractor before ordering.

Sources

• HSE: Using PPE to control risks at work, overview
• HSE: Selection and use of PPE
• HSE: Maintenance of PPE
• HSE: Using the right type of PPE
• HSE: Construction PPE questions
• HSE: Personal protective equipment at work (L25)
• HSE: INDG344 health and safety toolkit for smaller construction contractors
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
• Contractor PPE standard: helmet colour coding

Recommended

• Branded PPE Guide: What to Check Before You Order
• 140–400+ GSM: What Procurement Teams Must Specify for Workwear
• Custom Hi-Vis Uniform | Personalised High Visibility Uniform
• Match Rating to Role: Waterproof Jacket Ratings for UK Workwear Buyers