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Seabee81  
#1 Posted : 01 May 2012 11:18:23(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Seabee81

The other day there was an American soldier on TV wearing camoflage trousers and a high viz vest. Can anyone think of a more pointless outfit than that?
David Bannister  
#2 Posted : 01 May 2012 11:28:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister

Was it by any chance exactly 1 month ago?
Ken Slack  
#3 Posted : 01 May 2012 11:31:12(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ken Slack

Seabee81 wrote:
The other day there was an American soldier on TV wearing camoflage trousers and a high viz vest. Can anyone think of a more pointless outfit than that?
Depends on the context SeeBee, served alongside the americans many times and they are very safety conscious, especially in camp, where there are obviously alot of vehicles rolling about, from Humvees's to Abrahams MBT's, so they wear hi-viz to make sure they aren't run over...
ExDeeps  
#4 Posted : 01 May 2012 12:18:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
ExDeeps

Seabee, I had to smile when I read your OP. Why? well, the SeaBee's I've encountered before are the US Navy's Construction Battalion's (SeaBee = CB get it??) so at first glance you appear to be one of our trans atlantic military cousins yourself...! ;-) Anyhow, HiViz is actually a pretty good idea when you're not in combat but wearing "you can't see me kit" Cheers, Jim
m  
#5 Posted : 01 May 2012 12:29:24(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
m

Officer: I did not see you on camoflage training today! Private: Thank you sir.
Seabee81  
#6 Posted : 01 May 2012 12:29:28(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Seabee81

I had to smile when I read your OP. Why? well, the SeaBee's I've encountered before are the US Navy's Construction Battalion's (SeaBee = CB get it??) so at first glance you appear to be one of our trans atlantic military cousins yourself...! ;-)
Its actually based on my initials CB, and I work in offshore construction so I thought it would suit. All makes sense now Jim. As long as you take your high viz off before the bullets start flying. Do the British forces also wear high viz? How does H&S in the forces compare with that of civy street?
Seabee81  
#7 Posted : 01 May 2012 12:30:31(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Seabee81

m wrote:
Officer: I did not see you on camoflage training today! Private: Thank you sir.
Haha I love that joke
HSSnail  
#8 Posted : 01 May 2012 12:41:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
HSSnail

Not quite the same, but did some work a few years ago with a safety adviser for the royal engineers. She told me that during exercise while building temporary bridges (sorry don't remember the real name for these) they used full protection harness. In actual; combat zone they did not as it was more of a hazard if they needed to get off the bridge with bullets flying than the risk of injury from a fall.
CliveLowery  
#9 Posted : 01 May 2012 12:55:20(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
CliveLowery

Seabee, Not wishing to hijack the original post, but in answer to your question, when I left in Nov 2003, "Health & Safety" in general was far better in the forces than outside, IMHO, mainly because it was instilled in you from basic training through until you left. Training/Re-Training was carried out regularly and was accepted by all as a necessity not merely a tool to keep trainers/consultants in work. Yes I often did wear Hi-Viz with Green kit - mainly when acting as an umpire whilst on exercise. At the end of the day its easier and quicker to lose the Hi-Viz than trying to get Cammed Up. REgards Clive
samspratt  
#10 Posted : 01 May 2012 14:54:52(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
samspratt

SeeBee, As the US forces standard order of dress at the moment is camouflage any non-operational activity that requires the serviceman to be conspicuous requires the use of Hi-vis. The US Airforce wear a hi-vis belt as a matter of course whilst walking about their bases whilst in camouflage uniform. The UK MOD has an extensive H&S organisation from top to bottom and, as clivelowery states, it is ingrained from day 1 in basic training for all three services. Units and organisations are audited on a regular basis, with the period determined by the level of hazard associated with their main activities. Many ex-service personnel have started second careers in H&S on discharge and have readily found jobs due to their past experience; especially true of the technical trades.
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