Rank: New forum user 
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I have been challenged by a warehouse environment regarding their hi-vis clothing. I have recently started working for a business that has a large warehouse. All areas are very well lit, however there are forklifts operating in some areas.
All Operatives currently wear clothing that conforms to the usual hi-vis standard. The risk assessment dictates this to be the most suitable. I have reviewed the risk assessment and have found it’s a very generic copy and paste job.
The challenge was, do we need to wear clothing with reflective strips on, or can we but fluorescent T-shirts for summer. As mentioned above, the area is very well lit and very spacious. I am inclined to suggest that as long as the clothing conforms with EN 17353:2020, enhanced visibility, this will be suitable. It’s not a high risk environment. There will need to be hi-vis clothing worn when working outside in the yard in winter months due to the darker weather but the question only relates to summer uniform.
Does anyone have any guidance or suggestions on this? Surely as long as the workers are visible (hence the enhanced clothing standard) I would say the risk level is acceptable.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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If you follow a proper control heirarchy there will be no pedestrians near the trucks eliminating any need for Hi-Vis or Enhanced Visibility.
Even where there is interaction this PPE first mentality is contrary to normal life. Does everyone walking near a road wear Hi-Vis and with this being the case why do H&S professionals determine it should be an absolute in the workplace? No apologies but road side workers/cyclists/children in Hi-Vis still get killed. There are (and I hate myself saying this) technological solutions that can be attached to the vehicles - after all the Hi-Vis will never stop a person being hit by the truck the only real difference being that of the company RA states Hi-Vis and the casualty was not wearing the same the insurers will argue contributory negligence. Perhaps a radio belt that kills the FLT drive if they approach too close would be a better control?
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Rank: Super forum user
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If you follow a proper control heirarchy there will be no pedestrians near the trucks eliminating any need for Hi-Vis or Enhanced Visibility.
Even where there is interaction this PPE first mentality is contrary to normal life. Does everyone walking near a road wear Hi-Vis and with this being the case why do H&S professionals determine it should be an absolute in the workplace? No apologies but road side workers/cyclists/children in Hi-Vis still get killed. There are (and I hate myself saying this) technological solutions that can be attached to the vehicles - after all the Hi-Vis will never stop a person being hit by the truck the only real difference being that of the company RA states Hi-Vis and the casualty was not wearing the same the insurers will argue contributory negligence. Perhaps a radio belt that kills the FLT drive if they approach too close would be a better control?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Isn't the purpose of the reflective strips to light up in bright light from car headlamps and the like?
And when you observe people going about their business in the warehouse (which you have noted is well lit), do the reflective strips appear to be adding anything?
I suggest trusting your observation and judgement.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Bella To add to what Kate has said I suggest you ask the fork truck operators to help you make the judgement. The tapes on hi vis to BS EN specs are retro-reflective, so designed to bounce the reflected light straight back to where the light source is e.g. the lights of a car (so that the driver is alerted) rather than being reflected in a scatter. So, if the warehouse is well lit and the fork truck operators don't need to have the lights on their vehicles on, then there may be little, if any, advantage in having full spec hi vis. However, in addition as you have implied and where Roundtuit has been explicit at best this is a measure low down on a hierarchy of control measures. Those maintaining the roads don't get that much protection by wearing hi vis when drivers do things like incursions into traffic management, which are far from uncommon.
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 1 user thanked peter gotch for this useful post.
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