Reflective tape is made of tens of thousands of tiny glass beads, which when exposed to a light source, reflect light back while also providing a clear image of the object directly back to that same light source. It is these qualities that make retro-reflective tape deal for people like firefighters and mine workers, who work in low-visibility environments. In an environment with little or no light, retro-reflective tape enables the wearer to visible and therefore, safer.

Reflective tape is the wearer to be suitably identified as human as opposed to a static reflective surface or object. For example, in a mine, the headlights of a truck will pick up the retro-reflective tape on the PPE worn by a pedestrian, allowing the truck driver to be able to see whether the object is human and whether they are moving or static. Due to the unique properties of retro-reflective tape, the viewer or approaching vehicle is able to identify the shape of the source and react accordingly. The garment configuration and design is also important as this will assist in identifying whether the wearer is walking towards or away from the light source. PPE designed for low-visibility, high-risk conditions such as mining will have strategically-placed retro-reflective tape on the garment, which is in accordance with their country or region’s high-visibility standards.