Keeping a work environment safe requires an awareness about where hazards are in relation to the people they might affect. Put simply, the more everyone in a workspace knows about where everyone else is, the less likely they are to unwittingly cause an accident.
It’s for this reason that high-visibility clothing is considered such an important category of safety equipment. They allow workers to be more easily seen, even in poor lighting conditions, and this in turn makes them less likely to be injured by traffic, machinery, and other hazards.
In the UK, all clothing advertised as high-visibility must conform to the relevant British Safety Standard (in this case BS EN 471). It’s a requirement of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 that PPE is provided to protect at-risk workers, and high-visibility clothing certainly falls into this category. Ideally, it should be fluorescent, with reflective panels in place to ensure that the wearer shines when under headlights (and floodlights).
But exactly which sorts of workers benefit from clothing of this kind? Lets take a look at some of the key professions.
Construction Workers
A construction site is among the most hazardous places it’s possible to work. Those active on site are often contractors, who might not be aware of the comings and goings of everyone working there – which makes it especially important that everyone is as visible as possible. This is especially the case when work is ongoing at night-time.
Rail Workers
If you’re doing work in locations where trains are going to be passing by, then it’s critical that you’re seen – and ideally as early as possible. If you’re working on the railways, after all, you’re in a very different position to that of a passenger. A high-vis jacket might make the difference between being able to stop the train in time, and failing to do so.
Airport Workers
The same consideration applies at an airport. It isn’t just the aeroplanes themselves that pose a hazard here, but the myriad buses used to transport passengers, mobile stairways, pushbacks and anti-icing machines.
Waste Disposal Workers
Bin men (and women) spend much of their working lives walking alongside a sizeable truck, in a road. It’s essential that the driver can keep track of everyone during the round. Workers at rubbish dumps also have to contend with hazardous equipment, along with piles of waste. The more visible they are, the better.
Emergency Responders
If firefighters, ambulance crews, and police aren’t fully visible, then their safety is put at risk. This makes it difficult for them to do their work. This is especially pressing when we consider that many first-responders are required to do their jobs in the middle of busy roads, and other hazardous environments.
