Hi all

Have any of you found any Internet guidance / examples where each class of high Visibility clothing would be used. Ie when would class 1 be appropriate and at what point you should think about class 2, and so on to class 3. Yes, I know you would normally start with the task and work the other way, but I want to provide some examples internally to others of what sort of instances each would be used.

For instance, I would say that class 3 ( EN ISO 20471) would be for working on / alongside a dual carriage way / motorway for say traffic officers, highway maintenance, breakdown personnel. These professions will need to be seen from the max distance due to speeds of vehicles. Also that Jackets etc. With full sleeves and trousers would be required.

Less sure of examples situations for class 2 or even class 1. So has anyone seen any guidance.

Also the HSE seem to still be referring to BS EN 471 and not the newer standard EN ISO20471, are we still in the changeover period where both are acceptable. I know En ISO 20471 effectively is the same except it is all reflectivity level 2 (no option for 1 so no need to state it). However, should the HSE be referring to the new standard now as it came in 3 years ago.

Chris

Class 3: any persons working on or near motorways, dual-carriage ways or airports.
Must cover the torso and have either sleeves with retro reflective bands or full length trouser legs with retro reflective bands.

Class 2: any persons working on or near A and B class roads including delivery drivers.

Class 1: any persons working on a private road or in conjunction with a higher classed garment.

Page 3 in this document gives you a decent overview of what Class is suited to where but plenty other information that will probably prove useful for you to be found here: http://www.fashionsystem...rochure%20EN_lowress.pdf

For anyone working on the public highway it would be Class 2. Class 1 isn't worth bothering with unless you had a consultant insisting workers in your factory near FLT should wear Hi-Vis and your bean counters insisted on the cheapest PPE available (given a certain discount retailer had to withdraw all its non-compliant stock that was on sale for £1).

Various employments Class 2 has been the minimum acceptable only moving up for major road and rail to Class 3 GoRT

I'm not sure why there are three different classes of PPE either. If there is nothing to benchmark against I cannot see any good reason to have three classes. The danger as Chris has identified is that without some guidance people will opt for the highest class (3) by default.

On the railway industry an 'all orange' PPE system equivalent to class 3 has been adopted, driven no doubt by corporate clients. This makes good sense when working trackside with trains whizzing about. The problem remains when working in a 'high street' environment or off track, there is no provision to downgrade - all orange must still be worn.

The railway industry adopted orange Class 3 (GoRT) due to visual perception of the human eye (contrasting versus complimentary colours). At a distance yellow Hi-Vis can be like camouflage against a back drop of embankments, bushes, shrubs & trees.

There are comments that insects seem to be less attracted by Orange kit - watching lunch breaks over last summer those in Yellow did seem to be swatting at wasps and similar more than their Orange wearing counter parts.

During my travels I have also seen luminous green, pink, red and blue - all bearing labels stating conformance to Class 2 and sourced from respected national suppliers.

The colour of the garment does not come into the British Standard it is the reflective strips that are attached to the garment that need to conform to the Standard. The class used on Motorways requires a very high standard reflectivity, as the carriageway is usually unlit and is reliant on what light is avaible from the sky or oncoming headlights.

Thanks all

Yes as Roundtuit notes that I think class 1 would not be specified. So in effect everything is class 2 or bumped to class 3 for major roads and Rail.

Due to the areas involved I think trousers and over trousers are class 1, but when used with a class 3 jacket the whole outfit is thought of as meeting class 3.

Yes Network Rail require the class 3 orange, and it was reported back to me by the men that they felt this colour was less attractive to the insects. I was reading something the other day, when they thought of introducing orange they trialled it in an area then asked the train drivers what they thought - how progressive !

At a Network Rail seminar a few years ago now, they also said it helped prevent confusion with other signals.

Cheers for the input
Chris