February 9, 2012

High Visibility American Workwear Safety Requirements

High visibility clothing in the workplace is essential for a number of occupations. Bright coloured, fluorescent material and reflective strips improve the visibility of workers at all times, especially in adverse weather conditions and times of limited light. For road workers, high visibility workwear makes them visible from a distance and the headlights of oncoming traffic reflect of the strips at night making them visible to all road users, dramatically improving their safety. For public safety workers, in particular law enforcement as well as making them visible in dangerous surroundings, it helps to identify them in a crowd and recognise an authoritative figure in case of an emergency.

 

ANSI/ISEA 107

Site workers must wear the correct high visibility clothing while working on the roads, the garments must comply with the ANSI/ISEA 107. This is required for right-of-way workers, flaggers and adult crossing guards. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices states the requirement for high visibility clothing in these professions, a change to the MUTCD in 2011 showed new standards that the workwear would have to meet to be acceptable.

 

ANSI/ISEA 207

Many public safety workers must wear high visibility workwear as a legal requirement. The American National Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests (ANSI/ISEA 207-2011) is the authoritative document for the design, use and performance specifications for high visibility garments specifically worn by public safety employees. The standards include basic requirements for the high visibility vests including colour and dimensions, and also cover the more complex issues for employees who work in dangerous situations such as fire and employees who work with medical emergencies. The range of jobs that these safety requirements cover includes law enforcement, firefighters and incident command personnel.

 

When your occupation requires hi vis workwear, the employer has a legal responsibility to provide the correct high visibility clothing that meets the safety requirements. It is important to be aware of any changes to the high visibility laws as they can change for different occupations in the hope to increase employee’s safety in the workplace.

 

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January 31, 2012

Be Safe and Visible While Exercising Outdoors

During the winter exercise is still important. Expensive gym memberships and busy schedules will often mean that people do not have the time or money to workout indoors and will exercise outside. Many people prefer to exercise outdoors as it can wake you up making you feel alert for the day and can provide pleasant surroundings while you run. Exercising outside does require precautions; during the winter the mornings are still dark and the nights are much shorter. Bad weather conditions like rain and snow can decrease your visibility on the roads so you need to ensure that if you choose to exercise outside, you are aware of the dangers. However there are ways to be safer while getting your daily dose of exercise out on the roads.

 

Cover Up

While exercising outside during the winter it is essential that you try to contain body heat. Most body heat escapes through your head so wearing a hat can help to prevent this. Gloves are also important as your hands are the first to feel the sharp bite of the cold winter weather.

 

Correct Footwear

Your everyday running shoes may not be so effective, they can be worn down and have little grip to hold on to icy patches on the road. Invest in a pair of weatherproofed shoes for the winter months that have small cleats and lugs to help dig into the snowy road surface providing additional grip.

 

Layer Up

Ensure that you have three layers on while out in the adverse winter weather, especially if you’re out hiking, this will help to defend you from the cold weather. More layers can be worn in the extreme weather conditions, wearing more layers that you can remove is better than wearing not enough layers. Remember to wear flexible clothing that will not restrict your movement, especially if you’re running and cycling.

 

Be Visible

Shorter days and the dazzling rays of a low winter sun can make you less visible. Thick snow on pavements will encourage you to run on the road which can be dangerous with oncoming traffic. It is important to wear a high visibility vest over the top of your running gear so that you can increase your visibility while exercising outside in the winter.

 

Hydrate

Running outside in the freezing cold air can dry out your body and leave you very dehydrated. You need to drink plenty of water before you leave the house and take water out with you. It is as important to hydrate while exercising in the winter as it is in the summer.

 

Industrial Workwear provides high visibility clothing at great value that meets safety requirements. There is a wide range of high visibility clothing that is suitable for runners; there are jackets for the winter including hi-vis cotton hooded jackets for a laid back and comfortable look that is lightweight and less restrictive. There are also hi-vis vests to put over running clothes and to wear over T-shirts during the summer months.

 

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January 24, 2012

Importance of Hi Vis Workwear for Rail Workers

Although there are many dangers involved while working on rail tracks, the railway network always needs maintenance and having the lines fixed is necessary. Wearing high visibility jackets increase safety on the railway lines as they make the workers visible from further away, a train does not have the capability to stop within a short distance and there is not a lot the drivers can do to prevent collisions with humans and animals on the track. As soon as the driver recognises someone they can give a warning and signal that there is a train approaching.

High visibility is now a mandatory requirement when working on the railways, every individual who works on the track and the lineside workers must wear high visibility workwear. The high visibility clothing worn must meet the rail specification requirements, EN 471:2003 is the European Standard for high visibility clothing; there are three levels of protection:

Class1 – The lowest level of visibility, including a pedestrian vest and trousers.

Class 2 – Intermediate level of visibility, Two 5 cm bands of reflective around body or on one 5 cm band around body and braces to both shoulders.

Class 3 – This is the highest level of protection required for workers in Europe, which is necessary for anyone on or near motorways, dual carriageways, airports and railways. This level of safety requires the same as Class 2, but with long sleeve jackets or shirts, each with two reflective stripes on.

There are different working environments for rail workers, they can carry out work on the tracks when there are no trains running and this is called ‘Green Zone working’ however there is also work done on rail tracks that are active during the day and night, this is called ‘Red Zone working’. While working in the ‘Red Zone’ high visibility clothing is imperative, with poor light, adverse weather and an active rail track, the workers must be visible at all times and wearing the correct safety clothing.

There is a large range of Rail Spec Hi Vis clothing at Industrial Workwear; they provide a wide selection of styles from vests for lineside workers and full coveralls, trousers and jackets for the railway workers. All of the high visibility workwear meets the standard requirements and provides a safe solution for workers involved in every aspect of the railways.

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January 24, 2012

High Visibility Clothing to be Compulsory in France

From January 1st 2013 it will be compulsory for motor bikers in France to wear high visibility clothing when out on the road. The Highway Code is currently being amended to reflect the new legislation. The new Highway Code will require anyone with a bike over 125cc to wear hi-vis clothing in order to increase their visibility out on the roads. High visibility clothing must be worn on the upper body and have the required amount of reflective strips to comply with the European laws on high visibility clothing.

 

Any biker that does not comply with the new regulation will face a £56 fine; the new rules will apply to all riders and passengers on the bikes that travel in France including foreigners passing through. Many French bike owners and motorbike insurance policy owners have not been too happy with the change in the law arguing that motorists on the road should be able to notice them without high visibility clothing and say that the choice of wearing high visibility clothing should be left up to them. Motor bikers have set certain petitions to stop the new law from going ahead.

 

High visibility clothing is necessary in order for other road users to clearly see dangers on the road especially in times of poor light and low visibility. Adverse weather conditions and dark nights have been the cause of many accidents due to the inability to see other motorists. High visibility clothing is small change that can make a huge difference. There are many different styles of high visibility clothing that can be worn to protect you when you are out on the roads.

 

High visibility clothing can be purchased at Industrial Workwear for a great value. It is essential for achieving a safer environment and is ideal for achieving safer roads. Industrial Workwear have a wide selection of high visibility clothing, including hi-vis for general purposes, rail-spec high visibility and Gore-Tex hi-vis workwear products, with each garment offering its own distinct specialist qualities. The range includes jackets, coveralls and salopettes to increase safety the workplace and for more general purposes, such as walkers, motor bikers and cyclists there are body warmers, waistcoats, over trousers and hooded sweatshirts for a more laid back and everyday look.

 

 

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January 19, 2012

The Technology Behind High Visibility

High visibility clothing and accessories are excellent tools to help keep you safe, both at work and on the streets.  The technology used in hi-vis clothing makes you more visible to other people, which can be vitally important if that person is driving or using heavy machinery. Wearing hi-vis clothing is a legal requirement for many occupations, and pedestrians and cyclists are turning to it more and more to keep them safe, but how exactly does it work?

Most high visibility garments have two main parts, both of which are always used on hi-vis clothing in the workplace. The majority of the surface of a typical hi-vis garment, such as a jacket or vest, is made of fluorescent material that reflects the sun’s ultra-violet rays. This part of a high visibility garment is used to increase daytime visibility, because it gives it a glowing effect. This technology still allows the hi-vis clothing to be seen in cloudy or foggy weather, as well as at dawn and dusk.

The rest of a high visibility garment is made up of the retro-reflective strips that look silver during the daytime, but are useful at night because they reflect light back at its original source. This means they are useful for helping motorists to see pedestrians and cyclists that are wearing hi-vis clothing.

Both parts of a hi-vis piece of clothing are essential to help keep you safe. Without it, motorists will take longer to see you and take action if they need to avoid you. Even a few seconds can be the difference in averting a potential accident, and this is why hi-vis clothing is so important.

 

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January 11, 2012

High Visibility for your New Years Resolution

Road users are being urged by Police to make safety a New Years resolution. Runners, walkers and cyclists are being advised to wear high visibility clothing when out on the roads in order to be seen by other road users. There are still a few months left of dark nights and possible bad weather conditions so it is still important to keep safety out on the roads a high priority.

 

Reflective material helps to highlight people out on the road especially at night time and in times of poor visibility. New Years resolutions are mainly to get fit and start having a healthier lifestyle meaning more people are out running and walking on the roads. They are generally out in dusk and dawn not during working hours when it is still dark outside at this time of year. High visibility clothing is essential for cars to identify them giving the motorists enough time to be cautious around people who are out running and walking.

 

Safety is being urged by the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, not only are they suggesting that cyclists, walkers and runners are wearing the correct high visibility clothing but to also suggesting to people walking and running that they avoid using mp3 players and iPods near crossings and encouraging cyclists to have front and rear lights fitted. Over the past three years, according to figures from Safer Roads Partnership, 28 people have died and 273 were injured in West Mercia after collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists.

 

With this in mind it is important to consider the clothing that you are wearing while out on the road and trying to make safety one of your New Years resolutions. A lightweight high visibility vest is all that needs to be worn and can be easily fitted over running clothes and thick winter coats. Industrial Workwear have a wide selection of high visibility clothing suitable for road users that comply with the necessary safety regulations. They have great products for walkers and runners including a high visibility hooded sweatshirt, high visibility polo shirt, high visibility hats and caps and a high visibility reversible bodywarmer, offering a safe alternative in a more fashionable and diverse style.

 

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December 21, 2011

Construction: High Visibility Workwear

Construction is the most dangerous land-based work industry in Europe after the fishing industry. There are many dangers on a construction sites such as falling from heights, heavy machinery and falling objects. Some of the main hazards include absorbents, solvents and noise. Safety in these situations is paramount, it is essential that the workers on these sites are highly visible at all times

To prevent all of these dangers from occurring on site, every workplace needs to complete health and safety checks in order to make it a safer working environment. There are many safety measures that can be implemented like ramps, runways and walkways to prevent people falling; there are also safety measures like warning light systems and personal protective wear to reduce the risk of harm.

High visibility wear is one of the main things that workers use to stay safe. It is now illegal in many construction sites for workers to enter if they are not wearing the correct high visibility wear and personal protective equipment. High visibility helps workers to be seen by other workers while on the construction site. Many sites operate in the dark, therefore needing hi vis vests to make them as visible as possible in dark conditions. Working in bad weather can also reduce your visibility, fog, snow and rain can make it difficult for people to see you when driving around the site and operating machinery, high visibility vests with reflective strips and bright fluorescent colours make you visible to other workers on the site even through adverse weather and poor lighting.

The nature of the job is extremely active therefore a class 2 is suitable so that the workers are still comfortable and their movement is not restricted. They need to have full movement in order to do their job effectively, meaning only a high visibility vest is required. During winter, workers may prefer to wear the full high visibility jacket, Industrial workwear provide these jackets and although they keep you warm and provide full coverage, they are still relatively light so a worker can easily carry on with their jobs with little discomfort and distraction.

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December 14, 2011

Business Owners Donate High Visibility Jackets to Homeless – News

The thought of spending any time on the streets is an unimaginable idea for the majority of people in the UK. Whatever our worries, most of us will be safe in the knowledge that we always have a home to go to. However, homelessness is a harsh reality for many people. This is particularly poignant at Christmas, where we take the ideas of family and shelter for granted. In Chichester, local businesses have come together to at least try to keep the homeless population safe during the winter nights.

Businesses in the local area, from national retailers to local shops, have all pitched in to raise funds to provide homeless people with high visibility jackets. This comes after the sad news that two pedestrians were killed on the busy A27 road. People are worried that the people living on the streets, who have to cross this road regularly, may potentially be involved in a similar accident. The idea is that these high visibility jackets will help make them more visible to motorists, as well as providing a little extra warmth in the cold weather.

Inspector Kris Otley, head of the neighbourhood response team, praised the initiative and hoped the hi-vis jackets could help save lives across the Christmas period. He went on to say: “I would urge motorists using roads anywhere in the district at this time of year to pay special attention to other road users, particularly pedestrians and cyclists, who themselves should take every possible precaution to make sure that they are highly visible at all times.

If this scheme saves just one life, it will definitely be seen as a success. The cost of the hi-vis jackets, especially when split among many businesses, is relatively low, and is a small price to pay for potentially saving lives. It is hoped that other businesses across the country will also follow a similar initiative.

 

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December 14, 2011

Safer Travelling with High Visibility Patrols over the Festive Period

Over the Christmas period there will be a number of operations by British Transport Police running alongside the train operating companies throughout Wales. High visibility patrols will be conducted in order to reduce the rate of aggression and crime on the train line, protecting the rail staff and passengers to ensure everyone has a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

During Christmas holidays there is an increased crime rate due to the amount of alcohol that is consumed. With more parties and celebrations taking place there are more alcohol related crimes around this time of year. British Transport Police will be taking part in Operation Genesis, a new initiative that is created to keep rail users and workers safe, particularly at this time of year. High visibility patrolling officers have been told not to hesitate in taking action against someone who has not drank responsibly and is causing problems to anyone else on public transport.

More people will be using train journeys over the next few weeks as taxis can be expensive around Christmas and fewer people will be driving around. Alcohol fuels many violent crimes and people who are drunk can become very vulnerable if they have had excessive amounts. High visibility patrols are thought to reduce the crime rate over Christmas and will ensure that no ones festivities are ruined due to alcohol induced crime.

High visibility wear is important for police at work; they would struggle to carry out this kind of initiative without it. They need to be fully visible to the public in order for people to know that they are being monitored, making them less likely to carry out a criminal offense and to ensure that people can easily and quickly identify them incase of an emergency. High visibility is also important while working with train lines, the tracks are a dangerous place to work and during the Christmas period with darker nights, icy and snowy conditions the level of visibility can be dangerously low and the temperatures plummet at night, making reflective jackets and trousers a necessity for this working environment.

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December 1, 2011

High Visibility for Road Safety Week

Last week campaigns were pushed to increase the knowledge of safer roads. Road Safety Week is an annual campaign to promote the importance of safety precautions on the roads especially on the dark nights. Firefighters and community safety staff are pushing people to commit to express the importance of walking on the roads and being better drivers during Road Safety Week. The event takes place every year and is organised by the charity ‘Brake’. There is a pledge in place that drivers are being asked to sign up to; it asks drivers on the roads to remember six pointers:

Slowly – Under speed limits
Sober – Don’t drink and drive
Silent – No ringing/texting while driving
Sharp – Keep alert and consider your eyesight
Secure – Belt up yourself and everybody else
Sustainable – Keep driving minimum, try to use other transportation means.

This campaign is important in reducing the amount of accidents and fatalities on our roads, making people more aware and willing with the precautions that they can take will help to improve road safety in the country.

Additional precautions, like high visibility clothing while out on the roads will reduce the amount of accidents involving pedestrians. This is a huge factor for staying safe on the roads and with the darker nights resulting in poorer visibility these extra safety measures need to be seriously considered.

Other companies have also been getting involved to help and improve the safety of children all over the country, the house-builder Barratt in Northampton have issued yellow high-visibility bag clips to pupils to mark national Road Safety Week. It makes children more visible while walking home from school both in the darker morning and evenings. They can be easily seen by on coming traffic with their very bright high visibility bag clips that can always stay on their schoolbags.

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