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When you're working around trucks it's a good idea to
Page 55
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make sure you are easy to see, which is why the law requires the use of high-visibility clothing in the workplace. CM takes a look at the law and reviews the options.
Given the high number of potentially dangerous situations that can arise when working out on the road with commercial vehicles, it's no surprise that wearing the correct high-visibility (HV) clothing is not only a sensible option,it's a legal requirement.
But before you squeeze into those lemon flares, cheek the rules, As with all personal protective equipment (PPE), there are many factors to be taken into account to make sure the correct HV clothing is chosen for a particular task.
According to the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). the choice of clothing should take into account ambient and artificial lighting conditions at the workplace and the effect of conditions such as fog and snow. HV clothing must provide adequate protection during the day and at night, as well as in adverse weather.
For some jobs, a HV waistcoat may he all that is needed. But in a higher-risk environment,such as recovery work,a full suit of HV clothing is required. It must be of a colour —usually fluorescent yellow —that ensures the wearer stands out: where necessary it should also incorporate retroreflective material, such as reflective strips at or below waist level on jackets and on trousers.
Like all PPE clothing,HV kit must conform to a British Standard (in this case BS EN 471) with a range of specifications (see panel).
Under the PPE regs,employers have a duty of care to provide their employees with safety clothing and equipment that is fit for purpose— and that includes assessing the working environment and the level of risk involved.
To give you an idea of what's out there, we've taken a look at a range of HV clothing. Prices vary greatly depending on the materials used and standard of manufacture, but they are all designed with one purpose: to make the wearer conspicuous in areas where not being seen can he fatal. •