Smarter PPE for Highways Teams: Meet Light-Source Emblems and Sun-Safe Technology
When working on the highways, visibility matters. But effective PPE needs to do more than simply stand out. Red Stag Materials’ 2026 PPE collection introduces enhanced safety features designed to help highways professionals improve visibility, monitor garment condition and support safer working practices.
Two standout innovations within this range and Light-Source Emblems and Sun-Safe Technology. Each addresses a different challenge faced by workers operating in demanding outdoor environments.
Light-Source Emblems: Visibility that goes beyond reflective tape
Highways work doesn’t stop when daylight fades. From night-time maintenance to early-morning callouts, workers can spend long periods operating in low-light conditions, where being seen is essential.
Traditional reflective tapes rely on an external light source, light-source emblems offer a different approach by using phosphorescent technology to absorb light and emit their own glow.
Light source emblems offer benefits including:
- Up to eight hours of glow following exposure to light.
- Quick charging: five minutes of natural light or ten minutes of artificial light.
- Enhanced visibility in low-light and no-light environments.
- Retro-reflective performance, supported by the inclusion of glass beads.
- Wash durability: machine washable for up to 50 cycles at 60°C.
Light source emblems are also available as a part of Red Stag Materials’ own brand labelling options, giving organisations the opportunity to combine enhanced visibility features with their company branding.
Sun-Safe Technology: A smarter way to monitor PPE degradation
High-visibility clothing is a vital part of the PPE worn by highways professionals, however fluorescent fabric can degrade over time through exposure to outdoor conditions, including sunlight and repeated use.
Knowing when a garment may no longer provide the required level of performance is an important part of PPE management.
Red Stag Materials’ Sun-Safe technology is designed to provide a clear visual indicator by fading at a similar rate to the fluorescent fabric, helping indicate when high-visibility clothing may need to be inspected or replaced.
Benefits of Sun-Safe Technology include:
- A visual compliance indicator for high-visibility garments.
- A fading rate designed to follow the fluorescent fabric, helping indicate when garment performance may have deteriorated.
- Support for PPE maintenance, helping teams identify clothing that may require attention.
- UK independence testing.
Rather than relying on appearance alone or waiting for a garment to become visibly worn, this technology provides an additional cue to help inform PPE inspection and replacement decisions.
Two Innovations. One Practical Goal.
Light-Source Emblems and Sun-Safe Technology address different aspects of workwear safety.
Light-Source Emblems focus on improving visibility in low-light environments. Sun-Safe Technology focuses on providing a visual indication of high-visibility fabric degradation.
Together, they reflect a more considered approach to PPE: not just choosing clothing for its initial performance but also thinking about how workers can remain visible and how garment condition can be managed throughout its working life.
For highways contractors, local authorities, construction teams and rail professionals, these features offer practical considerations when reviewing PPE specifications and equipping their workforce.
Explore the Red Stag Materials PPE Collection
Red Stag Materials’ PPE collection brings together specialist workwear designed for highways and related industries, with options spanning high-visibility jackets, tops, trousers and more.
With Light-Source Emblems, Sun-Safe Technology and bespoke own-branding labelling options, businesses can explore solutions that combine practical workwear requirements with enhanced visibility features and a consistent professional identity.
View the range here: PPE For Highways