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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November 28, 2011

High Visibility Protecting Shoppers at Christmas

With the Christmas shopping period in full swing, many police forces across the country are using high-visibility patrols to help keep customers safe during the busy period. Officers will be deployed in greater numbers, clad with easily-seen hi-vis clothing, aimed at deterring any would-be criminals. 

Whether you’re out shopping or enjoying a night out, you should be extra vigilant during the Christmas period. The often-busy city centres can be a popular place for thieves to try their luck. Because of how busy the shops tend to get, you could have some of your valuables stolen and not even realise until long afterwards, by which point there is very little action you can take. 

This is why police forces are making sure their presence is fully felt by everyone while they are out and about during the holidays. If a potential thief sees numerous police officers in their hi-vis jackets, they will be considerably less likely to try and steal anything. In the unlikely event they do, you will be able to easily find an officer to report the crime to. 

One such police force that is planning its own hi-vis police patrols is the Winchester Police Department. The patrols will take place in shopping centres, bus stations and areas near local pubs. Speaking to the Romsey Herald, Councillor John Cooper said of the patrols: “As the Community Safety Partnership chairman, I welcome the opportunity to work with the police, Hampshire County Council and other officers on what I consider to be a very important campaign.” 

When you’re out doing your Christmas shopping, make yourself aware of any police patrols, which will hopefully be readily available to you. This will help keep you safe, as well as make it easier to report any potential problems you may have.

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November 22, 2011

High Visibility and Road Safety: Important Facts to Remember

Leaving your vehicle at the side of the road if you have to get out due to a breakdown or car trouble makes you more exposed to other cars and puts you at an increased risk of being involved in an accident. It is important that you take extra precaution by wearing high visibility vests so that you are noticed by other motorists. Reflective vests are a great solution to increase your visibility. By wearing a high visibility vest you can be seen from 150 metres away compared to 30 metres with no reflective vest, at 30 metres the driver has much less time to react.

Accidents are always occurring on the roads and the motorways, the environment is dangerous in the daylight and when you can easily be seen by other motorists, let alone at night and in poor weather conditions. High vis vests increase your safety and significantly reduce your chances of being involved in an accident.

Here are some important facts:

• A high visibility vest can increase the distance a driver can see you, by almost five times

• In 2004/5 breakdowns on the hard shoulder, on Britain’s motorways resulted in over 94,000 collisions

• Over 40,000 people are killed or seriously injured, on the hard shoulder, in Europe each year

• The visual capacity of a human eye at night, is only 5% of visual capacity during daylight

• As many as 50 million people are injured or disabled by road traffic crashes every year

• Half of all crash victims are vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists

All of these figures can be reduced with the increase use of high visibility vests. With the legal requirement of hi vis vests being worn on work sites, the safety of workers has been dramatically improved. Although it is not a legal requirement on the roads high visibility vests need to be considered in order to stay safe. A great way to be prepared is to carry a high visibility vest round in your car, just in case there is an emergency. They take up very little space and can be purchased at Industrial Workwear for a great value price, then you have one on hand, just incase you need to stop at a roadside.
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