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Although you may have high visibility clothing provided either to your employees or by your employer, have you considered whether it is still suited to both the job and the risk, and in as good a condition as when it was first issued? It may well be that circumstances have changed, the employees have changed, the nature of the job or the risk has changed, or even that the clothing itself no longer provides the same level of visibility as it used to. It is easy to become blind to the changes which can directly impact on the security being offered by high visibility clothing, and in this article we examine a series of five checks which should be carried out both by the employer and the employee on a regular basis. If the high visibility clothing fails any of the following points, then it may well be prudent to consider replacing the item with a more suitable high visibility product. 1. The first, and one of the most important checks that you should carry out is to make sure that all of your high visibility clothing conforms to the current European regulation, EN471. This should clearly be indicated on any label, either by the inclusion of the number EN471 or the letters CE. In either case, if your high visibility clothing does not appear to conform to EN471 then you or your employer will be in breach of the legal requirements for personal protective equipment at work. 2. Secondly it will be important to make sure that the colour of the clothing is suited to the risk. Most high visibility clothing is coloured fluorescent yellow, since it is necessary to contrast as much as possible against the background colours. However, if workers are engaged in work in an environment which is very pale in colour, then it may well be that fluorescent yellow does not provide as much contrast as legally required. In this case it may be more suitable to purchase fluorescent orange high visibility clothing. 3. The next question to ask also relates to how suited the clothing is to the risk, because there are three classes of high visibility safety clothing. Class 1 offers the minimum protection, and generally includes items such as tabards. Class 2 will offer slightly more visibility and security, and generally refers to items such as pullover waistcoats. The highest class of high visibility clothing is Class 3, and this includes full body overalls and full bomber jackets offering maximum visibility and protection. If the worker is in an environment where visibility is generally good then it may be unnecessary to have Class 3 wear provided. Not only is it a waste of money to use Class 3 clothing where only Class 1 or 2 is required, but the more the Class 3 clothing is worn, the more wear and tear it will experience, and the less protection it will offer when it really is needed. 4. Another question relating to suitability requires an assessment of whether the PPE clothing is suited to the job. Sometimes wearing loose safety clothing can actually increase or create a risk. If workers are using machinery where loose clothing might present a danger it may be necessary to reconsider the type of clothing being provided. Loose tabards may be all that is required for the level of risk, but if the looseness represents a danger in relation to the job, then it may be more suitable to consider a more fitting Class 3 jacket instead. 5. It is a fact that high visibility clothing will become worn and soiled over time. In order to comply with EN471 high visibility clothing of any class must meet strict durability standards in relation to a number of tests. These require that the clothing is able to withstand prolonged exposure to UV radiation (sunlight), frequent washing, twisting and folding. The retroreflective strips must not become detached, nor should the reflectivity and visibility of the clothing be diminished. However, it is advisable to check that all of the retroreflective strips are still in place, that they are not cracked or coming loose, and that the brightness of the material is still adequate. By carrying out these regular checks on all high visibility clothing it will help to ensure that employees are being provided with the correct level of security and protection, and that employers are safely within their legal obligation. High visibility clothing has been demonstrated to save lives and reduce injuries, but only if it meets current standards, and is appropriate to both the job and the risk.
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High Visibility Clothing | www.intersafety.co.uk | EN471 High Visibility Clothing
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