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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
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Rank: Super forum user
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Chris
It's a good question, wish I had a good answer!
I suspect the lower levels of Class 1 and 2 could be applied to those workers who are at the least risk. For example, as you have pointed out, those working on the highway need the highest level of protecting - Class 3. In that case, those workers working in a compound, stores, even a construction site, it could be argued they are at less risk and therefore Class 1 or 2 would be appropriate.
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thanks for the replies
But I was actually looking for examples of job / tasks where class one would be suitable. RayRap and Roundtuit gave some examples, but I was thinking more everyday jobs that others may appreciate.
For instance I have seen, traffic wardens, community support workers, dog walkers, utility company personnel, politicians etc all wearing high Vis at some point, but which ones would be class 1 and which class 2 (and why)
The standard, repeated in the link from grim72 tells me how much is reflective etc, but so what, there is no calc for any given job /task (unlike noise).
Try as I might my Google mojo is obviously not working today as I can find no guidance on this. All well and good having 3 classes, but if there is no guide as to why you would go for a lower / higher class, everyone will go higher (to be on the safe side - gold plated again). Is there any point to class 1
Ok it can be argued we can do without some people like politicians and commercial dog walkers so they only need class 1. (close to Friday) :0)
Chris
I'm probably going to regret the dog walker comment.
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Rank: Super forum user
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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
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Rank: Super forum user
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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
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I guess it all comes down to that ever popular get-out clause that is forever rolled out "risk assessment"?
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Rank: Forum user
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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.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Martin Gray wrote: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 copy of BS EN 471 I have does define the colour - clause 5.1.1 states "The chromaticity shall lie within one of the areas defined in Table 2 and the luminance factor shall exceed the corresponding minimum in Table 2." Table 2 defines three colours - fluorescent yellow, fluorescent orange-red and fluorescent red, and each has defined chromaticity coordinates.
I will admit I have not read the new iso 20471, are you claiming it makes no requirement for colour?
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Rank: Super forum user
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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
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