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EN ISO 20471 clothing, also known as high visibility clothing, is produced for one purpose, which is to enhance visibility and thus to keep people safe when they are working on roads, runways, construction sites or in large warehouses, where vehicles, forklift trucks, aircraft and the like are operating.

Nevertheless, not everyone is aware of how little it takes for safety to be compromised. Even the smallest modifications to clothing can have fatal consequences. So far, too often, people make mistakes when dressing themselves or their employees.

All EN ISO 20471 clothing is certified in classes from 1-3 based on how visible the clothing is.

Depending on the nature of the job and the speed of traffic around the employee, the Danish Working Environment Authority requires the use of certified visible clothing on one of these classes.

If you make just the slightest modification to part of the clothing, it will no longer provide optimal protection.

This can be fatal!

We have therefore collected a list of the mistakes most commonly made by people, and what you should bear in mind when your work requires you to be particularly visible.

1. The Jacket is removed

All of your clothing must meet the requirements in order to be approved. If, for example, you remove your jacket and walk around in a t-shirt, you lose your visibility. You are therefore no longer certified in your safety class.

2. Work clothing gets too dirty

Too much dirt on the fluorescent areas of the clothing reduces visibility. This makes it more difficult to see you, so your clothing no longer meets the applicable safety requirements.

3.  Trousers are tucked into boots

A common sight is for people to tuck their trousers into their boots, either because the trousers are a little bit too long or because they prefer it that way. This is, however, not appropriate as the boots can easily cover reflexes, which then lose their effect.

4.  Clothing washed incorrectly

If you wash the clothing yourself there is a greater risk that it is washed incorrectly, which damages both reflexes and fluorescent areas, reducing the safety effect. The clothing can be damaged by the temperature, detergent or other textiles in the washing machine. Companies should ideally have a professional laundry solution, to make sure that employees clothing is washed correctly, and therefore still meets the standards in safety classes after washing.

5.  The safety of the clothing is not checked on an ongoing basis

The function and the safety effects of the clothing must be checked in order to make sure that it is still good enough. When the clothing is washed in a professional laundry, it is checked and if necessary new reflexes are applied in order to extend the useful life of the clothing.

6.  Shirt hanging over the trousers

Clothing must be worn as intended. This means that if there is fluorescent material around the lining or the pockets on the clothing, it must be visible all the time. You must therefore not let your shirt hang over the trousers and cover the colour. This causes the clothing to lose it’s full effect and it’s certification.

7.  Holes appear in the clothing

The clothing must always be intact. Even a small hole in your trousers or a logo sewn on can remove some of the fluorescent material. This means that the clothing may possibly not meet the standard and is no longer certified in it’s class.

What ‘Class’ does your job require?

• Class 1 reflective clothing:  If the surrounding traffic is driving at approx 30km/h or less.
• Class 2 reflective clothing: If the surrounding traffic is driving at between approx 30 and 60km/h.
• Class 3 reflective clothing:  If the surrounding traffic is driving at over approx 60km/h.

Contact Walker Health and Safety Services Limited if you require advice.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require you to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work.

Regulations require the employer to:

• Assess the risks to employees from noise at work
• Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks
• Provide employees with hearing protection if the noise cannot be reduced
• Make sure the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded
• Provide employees with information, instruction and training
• Carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health.

How to protect workers

Firstly, find out if there is a noise problem.

• Is the noise intrusive for most of the working day?
• Do employees have to raise their voices to carry out a normal conversation when about 2m apart for at least part of the day?
• Do employees use noisy power tools or machinery for more than half an hour each day?

Then, assess and control the risks:

• Measure the noise levels
• Put in a programme of noise reduction if needed
• Maintain plant and machinery
• Look for quieter processes.

Provide information, instruction and training. Tell workers:

• The likely noise exposure
• What  is happening to control risks and exposures
• Where and how people can obtain hearing protection
• How to report defects in hearing protection and noise-control equipment
• What their duties are under the Noise Regulations 2005
• What they should do to minimise the risk, such as the proper way to use hearing protection.

Implement health surveillance:

• Provide regular hearing checks in controlled conditions
• Tell employees about the results of their hearing checks
• Keep health records
• Ensure employees are examined by a doctor where hearing damage is identified.

Ignoring a noise problem in the workplace can cause misery to employees who may suffer deafness and tinnitus. This can be prevented and at the same time, save money and court appearances by assessing noise now.

Don’t wait for a claim.

Contact Walker Health and Safety to discuss a noise assessment.

Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year, from Walker Health and Safety Services Limited.

Driving in adverse weather conditions is dangerous, as the vehicle will not always behave in ways that might be expected. This makes driving tiring and stressful, due to the higher levels of concentration required. Adverse weather conditions include high winds, driving rain, fog, snow and ice.

Drivers are often ill-prepared for driving in these conditions and the following simple safeguards are often overlooked.

When driving in fog, switch on front and rear fog lights but remember to turn them off when conditions clear as rear fog lights dazzle drivers behind (it is also an offence to drive in clear conditions with rear fog lights on).

Slow down when driving in rain as wet roads are slippery and stopping distances are dramatically increased. Turn on dipped beam headlights. Be aware when passing large vehicles that excessive spray can temporarily swamp the windscreen and completely obscure the driver’s vision.

Driving in high winds is unpredictable, especially over bridges and exposed high ground. Sudden gusts, known as wind shear, can cause a vehicle to veer violently. The driver should be aware that large vehicles may veer around in high winds.

Snow, sleet and ice are treacherous as road conditions can vary in a very short space of time and patches of black ice may be present. In times of extreme cold, it is advisable to have warm clothes, blankets, suitable footwear and even a flask of hot drink in the vehicle in case of a breakdown.

Wherever possible, driving in adverse conditions should be avoided. All major road safety organisations warn drivers to avoid driving in snowy conditions. If driving in snow is necessary, consider having a shovel in the vehicle.

Be safe out there!!

Contact Walker Health and Safety Services if you require assistance.